When Does Magnolia Bloom? A Complete Guide to Its Flowering Period
The magnolia is beautiful and elegant, fresh and lovely, showy without being flashy, dignified and gentle. Its shape closely resembles the lotus, yet it is quite different from the lotus: when the magnolia is in full bloom, its petals spread out in all directions, standing gracefully among the branches and adding bright springtime charm to the garden. As the magnolia blooms, wave after wave of fragrance fills the air, refreshing the heart and lifting the spirit.
When Does Magnolia Bloom
The magnolia in bloom is stunningly extraordinary, its petals spreading wide, thick and full. The magnolia flower usually opens in February to March, but sometimes it blooms a second time in July to September, with the fruiting period in August to September. Although the flowering period lasts only a short two months, it is especially brilliant when in bloom, representing a spirit of pressing forward alone and resolute solitary courage, elegant yet gracefully unrestrained.
The magnolia often produces large white blossoms amid a scene of lush green, and with its rich fragrance it gives people a sense of indescribable grace, truly fresh and charming. Because the tree is tall and the flowers are borne high up, they sway in the wind with a spirited air, like heavenly maidens scattering flowers, very endearing.
In Which Months Is the Magnolia Flowering Season
Different magnolia varieties have slightly different flowering periods.
The white magnolia is a subtropical tree species, fond of light but slightly tolerant of shade. It is relatively cold-hardy and can overwinter outdoors in the Beijing area. It prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It has fleshy roots and does not tolerate waterlogging. It flowers before leafing out, with a flowering period of February to March and a fruit ripening period of August to September; the seeds exhibit embryo dormancy.
Magnolia luotianensis is native to Hubei (Dabie Mountain in Luotian County) and grows in forests at an altitude of 500 m. Its flowering period is March to April, and its fruiting period is September.
Magnolia elliptogemmata is native to Yuan'an, Hubei, and grows in woodland at an altitude of 700 m. Its flowering period is March, and its fruiting period is September to October.
Magnolia baohuaensis is native to Jiangsu (Baohua Mountain in Jurong). It grows in hilly terrain at an altitude of about 220 m. Its flowering period is March to April, and its fruiting period is August to September.
How to Eat Magnolia Flowers
Magnolia flowers are rich in vitamins, amino acids and various trace elements, and have the effects of dispelling wind and dispersing cold, and of regulating qi and soothing the lungs. They can be processed into snacks or brewed as tea. Below are several ways to eat magnolia flowers:
Steamed Magnolia Cake: Add rice flour (from rice or millet) to wheat flour, and after fermentation place it in a steamer basket in 3 to 5 layers, putting some magnolia petals and candied fruit between every two layers, then steam. It is a seasonal spring pastry, soft and sweet to eat.
Sauteed Pork Slices with Magnolia: Slice pork and coat it in starch, add a small amount of magnolia petals, then deep-fry in oil until cooked, take it out and add sweet-and-sour sauce or tomato sauce. It tastes light, fragrant and delicious.
Magnolia Egg Custard: Mix magnolia petals with eggs, then add white sugar, raisins, American ginseng slices and goji berries, and steam into a custard. It is highly nutritious.
Magnolia Salad: Add magnolia flowers to apple, watermelon, banana and strawberry, pour on salad dressing and mix. It is a delicious seasonal dish.
Magnolia Mixed Vegetables: Add magnolia flowers to celery stalks, winter melon strips and dried tofu, add monosodium glutamate and white sugar, add a little rice vinegar and mix well. It is light, fragrant and delicious.
Magnolia Rice Porridge: Cook porridge with rice, millet, glutinous rice and lotus seeds, then add fresh magnolia flowers once cooked, and add a little white sugar when eating. It tastes sweet and lovely.
Magnolia Three-Fresh Soup: Boil a soup with fresh shrimp, shiitake mushrooms and winter melon, and when cooked add a small amount of fresh magnolia flowers and various seasonings, such as chicken essence, cooking wine and pepper, then thicken with starch.
Magnolia Pancake: Made by mixing fresh magnolia flowers with wheat flour and frying in oil; crisp outside and tender inside, with a fine flavor.
The Legend of the Magnolia
The legend of the magnolia is steeped in the flavor of traditional Chinese folk tales. The story goes that long ago three sisters lived deep in the mountains: the eldest was called Red Magnolia, the second was called White Magnolia, and the youngest was called Yellow Magnolia. One day they went down the mountain to play and found the village cold and desolate, shrouded in autumn mist and utterly lifeless. The three sisters were greatly astonished, and after asking the villagers they learned that Qin Shi Huang had driven the mountains to fill the sea and killed the Lobster Princess; from then on the Dragon King became sworn enemies with Zhangjiajie. The Dragon King locked up the salt storehouse and would not let the people of Zhangjiajie eat salt, which finally caused a plague to break out and many people died. The three sisters deeply sympathized with them and decided to help everyone get salt. But how could that be easy? After being refused many times by the Dragon King, the three sisters had no choice but to start with the Crab General guarding the salt warehouse. They used the floral fragrance they had brewed to bewitch the Crab General, and took the opportunity to bore through the salt warehouse, soaking all the salt into the seawater. The villagers were saved, but the three sisters were transformed by the Dragon King into flowering trees. Later, to commemorate them, people called that flowering tree the magnolia, and the floral fragrance they had brewed also became their own scent. The story is simple and very beautiful, yet it also reflects people's pursuit of beautiful things and their longing for perfection.
The holy nobility of the magnolia sets the heart longing: the white pure, the purple elegant, the blossoms coy. Under the interplay of spring sunlight, one flowering tree after another shines brilliantly, flowering before leafing out, stretching out alluring silhouettes. People stop and linger, wishing only to leave all that beauty and purity in the world along with the magnolia.