Magnolia macrophylla (Great Leaved Magnolia or Umbrella Tree)

The Magnolia family first evolved 100 million years ago. Fossil records indicate that Magnolia macrophylla trees once colonised most of Europe, Asia, North America and it was known in Montezuma's Aztec society.  Now they exist in the wild only in southeastern USA and eastern Mexico where this round headed tree can grow to 10m in height with leaves a staggering 100cm. in length and 40cm. across with equally huge and scented white flowers in the spring.

These great leaves are dark green on top, with whitish green underneath. The flowers are white with reddish-purple basal markings, and each blossom is in turn both female and male.  As the Magnolia tree family evolved before bees existed, they rely on flightless beetles for pollination, so since beetles don't use nectar, the tree doesn't produce any but it does make lots of pollen, which the beetles can use. The white flowers are scented, but each flower only lasts for two days,  and in order to avoid self pollination, each flower opens into a tall goblet for the first day, while it is female.  The second day, the flowers become male, and they open out fully up to an amazing 40cm. in diameter.  If successfully pollinated by beetles, then eventually strange and primitive looking cone shaped fruits develop.

In the wild they grow in alluvial woods and sheltered valleys, so in the garden plant the tree in a protected spot in a south or westerly position in full sun to partial shade in a moist-but-well-drained soil that is acid to neutral. The roots are wide spreading and shallow so the tree will appreciate a deep mulch, particularly to protect the roots over the winter.

They need hot summers to ripen the new wood, and may be shy of flowering for the first couple of decades in this country.

Pruning is not needed apart from the removal of dead, diseased or crossing branches during the winter.

As an interesting, but probably useless footnote, the Cherokee peoples used an infusion of bark for treating stomach or tooth ache.