Magnolia sieboldii

This rather unusual and rare variety of magnolia flowers at the end of spring, or more often beginning of summer as a fully leaved shrub. Flower buds are erect and when they open up, the cup-shaped blooms turn to side or nod down. They are pure white, up to 10 cm across, with crimson anthers. Leaves are mid green, ovate to elliptic, 10-15 cm long, slightly downy making a suede feeling. Oyama magnolia dislikes pruning! Should you be unhappy with the shape of purchased shrub, be patient till it forms a dense plant itself. Cut off branches tend to dry out along the length. It needs fertile, always moist soil, especially during summer dry spells. The soil must be acidic. It is more wind tolerant than other deciduous magnolias. It grows quite slowly (about 10 cm a year) and spreads to sides rather than height. Fully hardy in Central Europe.