Magnolia campbellii - Campbell’s magnolia
One of the finest flowering trees in the world, definitely the most magnificent of the genus Magnolia.
Native to eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan at the eastern end of the Himalaya, grows at elevations 2400 – 3000 m. They stand leafless but covered in huge rosy pink 10inch 25cm waterlily shaped flowers a remarkable sight, the hairy buds protect the flowers throughout the hardest winter but once open they are vulnerable to early frosts.
In its native habitat it may exceed 30 metres high in the wild with specimens up to 45 metres were common over a century ago but were cut down for timber. In cultivation it may grow to about 25 metres after many years.
It is an interesting tree which is sparsely branched with few secondary branches and the bark on the main trunk is classified as elephant grey.
It produces large very showy spectacular flowers in spring before the leaves appear. It is spectacular when in full flower and has not been touched by a heavy frost. When mature it flowers freely as a mature tree.
Flowers are sweetly scented, clear rose-pink with darker shading at base. Sepals and petals (tepals) are similar and the outer tepals droop showing the inner ones standing up in a bud shape eventually opening to present the stamen and stigma in an interesting and beautiful cone shape.
When finished flowering large oval leaves appear which are up to 25cm long tapered at both ends.
In late summer large funny shaped red seed pods will appear. These also may be a talking point.
Magnolia campbellii has been grown from seed and a number of different cultivars propagated. Some hybrids have also been bred by plant breeders.
https://jury.co.nz/jury-plants/jury-magnolias/
https://jury.co.nz/2013/03/15/the-jury-magnolias-from-new-zealand/
Photos below are all of the same tree in different years and different light.
Native to eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan at the eastern end of the Himalaya, grows at elevations 2400 – 3000 m. They stand leafless but covered in huge rosy pink 10inch 25cm waterlily shaped flowers a remarkable sight, the hairy buds protect the flowers throughout the hardest winter but once open they are vulnerable to early frosts.
In its native habitat it may exceed 30 metres high in the wild with specimens up to 45 metres were common over a century ago but were cut down for timber. In cultivation it may grow to about 25 metres after many years.
It is an interesting tree which is sparsely branched with few secondary branches and the bark on the main trunk is classified as elephant grey.
It produces large very showy spectacular flowers in spring before the leaves appear. It is spectacular when in full flower and has not been touched by a heavy frost. When mature it flowers freely as a mature tree.
Flowers are sweetly scented, clear rose-pink with darker shading at base. Sepals and petals (tepals) are similar and the outer tepals droop showing the inner ones standing up in a bud shape eventually opening to present the stamen and stigma in an interesting and beautiful cone shape.
When finished flowering large oval leaves appear which are up to 25cm long tapered at both ends.
In late summer large funny shaped red seed pods will appear. These also may be a talking point.
Magnolia campbellii has been grown from seed and a number of different cultivars propagated. Some hybrids have also been bred by plant breeders.
- Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ is a pure white form.
- Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’ was raised at Kew in London in the 1940’s. The buds are blush pink gradually deepening to a deeper pink when open. It is a cross between Magnolia campbellii and M. campbellii var. mollicomata which is vigorous with large flowers. The terminal buds are covered with yellow hairs. It was awarded an RHS Award of Merit in 1963.
https://jury.co.nz/jury-plants/jury-magnolias/
https://jury.co.nz/2013/03/15/the-jury-magnolias-from-new-zealand/
Photos below are all of the same tree in different years and different light.