Magnolia obovata

Description

This large, fast-growing Magnolia produces highly scented white flowers in late May to June. The flowers, initially cup-shaped, open into flat, saucer-shaped blooms up to 20 cm across. As they age, the flowers turn creamy white with reddish-brown outer petals, adding depth of color. The ovate leaves, notable for their size, can reach 40 cm in length and 20 cm across. Under ideal conditions, this plant can grow to 4-6m in 10 years. Naturally found in the forested mountainous regions of the Russian Kuril Islands and the Japanese islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Ryukyus, it coexists with other large deciduous trees, including Magnolia kobus.