The magnolia has so much more to offer than the paint colour with which it is associated. The petals of this ancient symbol of purity range from delicate ivories and pinks to luminous yellows and purples

The magnolia has its origins in the Far East where, in seventh-century China, emperors cultivated them in their palace gardens and images of this plant – part shrub, part tree – began to decorate many works of art and porcelain. Although the first magnolia to come to the West was M. virginiana, introduced to America in 1687, it was not until 1789 that Joseph Banks brought M. denudata, the lily tree, and M. liliiflora, the woody orchid, to Britain. The crossing of these two magnolias produced M. x soulangeana, one of today's most popular hybrids. Its abundant, large, waxy, goblet-shaped flowers bloom in a wide range of colours, which combine the purity and clarity of M. denudata and the intense rich berry shade of M. liliiflora.
Natural diversity and the cross-breeding of magnolias has resulted in a delicious colour palette and a wonderful variety of shapes. Look out for the fluttering starry fingers of M. stellata and the helicopter whorls of M. 'Galaxy'; the saucer-shaped blooms of M. kobus and the giant knotted handkerchief-style blooms of M. cylindrica x M. campbellii 'Darjeeling'. Many magnolias are heavily fragrant, with notes ranging from the mildly clinical, antiseptic scent of the latter variety, to the heavenly scented, profuse flowers of M. x loebneri 'Merrill'.

HOW TO GROW MAGNOLIAS
There is a magnolia to suit almost every garden, from large specimen trees such as M.soulangeana and M. campbelli, and spring-flowering shrubs like M. stellata or M.sieboldii japonica, to evergreen magnolias such as M. grandiflora, which look beautiful grown against a wall. Deciduous varieties enjoy fertile soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5, and are reasonably problem-free if you avoid frost pockets. This can be done by selecting later- or long-flowering varieties such as M. stellata and M. 'Galaxy'. Natural polination is normally done by beetles, but seed propogation can be successful. You can gain quicker results, however, by using cuttings, grafting and layering. Magnolias are normally available to buy as container plants and should be planted in Autumn before the soil becomes too cold, or in spring after the frosts have ended.

WHERE TO SEE MAGNOLIAS
• The Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB, (01483) 224234; , where this feature was photographed, has a large collection of magnolias, many introduced by Jim Gardiner, passionate collector and curator of the gardens. A leading expert on the flower, Jim is a former president of the Magnolia Society International and has written Magnolias: A Gardener's Guide.
• Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP, (01444) 450326. An award-winning collection of magnolias.
• Trewithen Nurseries, Grampound Road, Trewithen, Truro, Cornwall TR2 4BD, (01726) 883647.
• Bridgemere Garden World, Bridgemere, near Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7QB, (01270) 521100.
• Notcutts Garden Centre, Ipswich Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AF, (01394) 445400.

APRIL 2005
WORDS JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT