Magnolia Flower (not correct)
I grow quite a few magnolias and would say that the flowers of this plant, “named for the flower it resembles” (APS registration) are less magnolia-like than those of ‘Garden Peace’ because of its large boss of stamens! Silvia Saunders referred to this as having a “big heart”.
It is a truly breath-taking beauty and the best of the few cultivars coming out of this cross. ‘Magnolia Flower’ is the plant on the left in the lower photo which was taken a few years ago. As you may have guessed by now, we also grow quite a few conifers but experienced gardeners can see where this scene is going! By 2020 the Chamaecyparis ‘Sungold’ was eating the peonies and they all needed new homes.
June 2024 – I have just learned that this is not ‘Magnolia Flower’. It does not match Silvia’s description. “In bud the sepals are finely edged white. Foliage is bronzy when many are already green. 10 petals, very lilac, poor substance, fluted at edges. Carpels pale green, naked.”
Still, this is a beautiful plant and may be one of the other Saunders introductions. Any ideas?
| Cultivar: | Magnolia Flower |
| Year: | 1949 |
| Seedling No: | 8388. Page 191 of Saunders’ Notebook I |
| Parentage: | 13: lactiflora 837 X wittmanniana (P. daurica ssp. wittmanniana – Hong) |
| Flower: | Color: | white with some mauve streaks |
| Form: | single, two rows of petals, outer petals often notched | |
| Blooms: | Week 5 | |
| Carpels: | 3, light (almost white) | |
| Stigmas: | dark red, purplish tone | |
| Disc: | dark pink, slightly visible | |
| Stamens: | filaments yellow, large number of stamens | |
| Plant: | Habit: | upright rounded bush |
| Foliage color: | medium green | |
| Foliage form: | fairly narrow | |
| Height: | 27″ in 2022 (2 years after moving so could be taller) | |
| Recommendation: | Highly recommended |
| Availability: | Few specialty nurseries |
