Introduction to the Southern Magnolia: A Complete Guide to This Plant
Quick Facts About the Southern Magnolia
The Southern Magnolia belongs to the Magnoliaceae family and is also known as the Foreign Magnolia or Lotus Magnolia. The Southern Magnolia is an evergreen tree with thick leathery leaves, large fragrant flowers, and a majestic, magnificent form. It is a relatively precious tree species with a long lifespan. This tree is widely planted in Kunshan. The character "Guang" (broad) symbolizes Kunshan's broad-mindedness and tolerance in embracing all rivers and learning from others' strengths; the character "Yu" (jade) symbolizes the city's character of "Kunshan has jade, and the jade is in its people"; the character "Lan" (orchid) symbolizes Kunqu Opera, the "ancestor of a hundred operas," as a "hidden orchid in the garden of drama." Moreover, these three characters are basically open-mouthed sounds with beautiful tones.
Morphological Characteristics of the Southern Magnolia
The Southern Magnolia is a large evergreen tree, 20-30 m tall. The bark is light brown or gray, cracking into thin scales. Branches and buds have rusty-colored fine hairs. Leaves are oblong-elliptic, alternate; petioles are 1.5-4 cm long, with brown short pubescence on the underside; stipules are separate from the petiole; leaves are leathery, blades elliptic or obovate-oblong, 10-20 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, apex obtuse or acuminate, base cuneate, dark green and glossy above, light green below with rusty fine hairs, with 8-9 pairs of lateral veins. Flowers are fragrant, white, cup-shaped, 15-20 cm in diameter, resembling lotus flowers when open; pedicels are stout and tomentose; tepals 9-12, obovate, thick and fleshy; stamens numerous, about 2 cm long, filaments flat, purple, anthers introrse, connective extended into a short pointed tip; gynoecium elliptic, densely covered with long tomentum, carpels ovate, 1-1.5 cm long, styles curved. Aggregate fruit is cylindrical-oblong or ovate, densely covered with brown or grayish-yellow tomentum, with a long beak at the apex. Seeds are elliptic or ovate, laterally compressed, about 1.4 cm long and about 6 mm wide.
Growing Habits of the Southern Magnolia
The Southern Magnolia prefers light and tolerates slight shade when young. It prefers a warm and humid climate and has a certain degree of cold resistance. It is suitable for growing in dry, fertile, moist, and well-drained slightly acidic or neutral soil. When planted in alkaline soil, it is prone to chlorosis. It dislikes waterlogging and poor drainage. It has strong resistance to smoke, dust, and sulfur dioxide gas, and few pests and diseases. Its root system is deep and extensive, and it has strong wind resistance. In particular, seedling-grown trees have straight trunks, a majestic form, and strong adaptability.
Origin and Distribution of the Southern Magnolia
The Southern Magnolia is native to South America and is distributed in North America as well as the Yangtze River basin and areas to the south in mainland China. In northern areas such as Beijing and Lanzhou, it has been introduced and cultivated artificially. It is the city tree of Changzhou, Nantong, and Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province, Hefei in Anhui Province, and Yuyao in Zhejiang Province. It is also relatively common in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou in the Yangtze River basin.