Buying and cultivating a (Wilson's Magnolia) is an investment in one of the most elegant, albeit elusive, treasures of the botanical world. Discovered in the mountainous forests of Western China in 1904 by the legendary plant explorer Ernest Wilson , this deciduous shrub or small tree is celebrated for its unique, "nodding" white flowers that are best appreciated from directly below. The Appeal of Wilson’s Magnolia
: Because it typically blooms in May or June (after its leaves emerge), it is less susceptible to the late-spring frosts that often ruin the flowers of earlier-blooming species. Buying Guide & Availability
: The flowers release a powerful, sweet fragrance—often described as a mix of citrus and spice—that can fill a garden in late spring and early summer.
Buying and cultivating a (Wilson's Magnolia) is an investment in one of the most elegant, albeit elusive, treasures of the botanical world. Discovered in the mountainous forests of Western China in 1904 by the legendary plant explorer Ernest Wilson , this deciduous shrub or small tree is celebrated for its unique, "nodding" white flowers that are best appreciated from directly below. The Appeal of Wilson’s Magnolia
: Because it typically blooms in May or June (after its leaves emerge), it is less susceptible to the late-spring frosts that often ruin the flowers of earlier-blooming species. Buying Guide & Availability
: The flowers release a powerful, sweet fragrance—often described as a mix of citrus and spice—that can fill a garden in late spring and early summer.