Magnolia kobus (Mokryeon or Kobushi Magnolia)

A properly hardy, deciduous Magnolia from Japan. It can reach 15 x 10metres in this country, starting out narrowly pyramidal as a young tree and then maturing into a broad and sweeping open crown, gently rounded and cloud-like. This one can be shy of flowering when young, but over time it will be smothered more and more thickly in 6 petalled flowers. These are extremely pretty, royal-icing soft and brilliantly-white.

Multi-trunked specimens of this tree crowned by thick and glossy foliage are a delight at all times of the year, so from a design point of view they’re valuable for both structure and architectural oomph. It has been noted elsewhere in the Magnolia pages that trees so known for their seasonal floral oompah can be overlooked the rest of the time. True in some cases perhaps, but here we advocate for (and can find any opportunity for) some properly creative shaping and training to wring the maximum amount of impact out of every specimen. For example, exposed trunks being as they are all silkily smooth and the palest fawn-in-moonlight brown, are ravishing. Lift that crown and we can accentuate the elegant tumble of Kobus’ slender, horizontally-held branches. We love this kind of thing and we do it terribly well. Take a look at how we do some creative maintenance here.  

Best grown on rich fertile soils that are moist but free draining, in a sunny spot protected from cold winds. Mulch the roots. Prune lightly for health if necessary.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.