Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Family: Magnoliaceae · Also called Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Yulan, Magnolia lacunosa, Magnolia grandiflora var. elliptica, Magnolia lanceolata
Citrus & Bright · Spring–Summer bloomer
The magnolia is a living fossil, one of the most ancient flowering plants on earth, virtually unchanged for 100 million years. Its large, waxy blooms are botanical time capsules, designed for beetle pollination in an era before bees existed. The flowers open like porcelain cups, creamy white to deep pink, releasing a fragrance that is at once lemony and lush.
dignity, nobility, perseverance, purity
In the Victorian language of flowers, magnolia means “Dignity and nobility of spirit”. Magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants, fossils date back 100 million years, predating bees. They evolved to be pollinated by beetles. In the American South, the magnolia is deeply embedded in culture and identity. In China, magnolia (yulan) has been cultivated for centuries in temple gardens.
Did You Know?
Magnolias predate bees by about 60 million years. Their flowers evolved tough, leathery petals to withstand crawling beetles rather than delicate flying insects. The cone-like fruit that follows the bloom splits open to reveal bright red seeds on silky threads.
Warm temperate forests from the southeastern United States to East Asia
Magnolia is native to East Asia, Americas. It naturally grows in warm temperate forests from the southeastern united states to east asia.
Scent Profile
“A luminous, citrus-sweet fragrance with creamy, champagne-like effervescence, sophisticated and uplifting.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameMagnolia grandiflora
- FamilyMagnoliaceae
- Native ToEast Asia, Americas
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Summer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants, fossils date back 100 million years, predating bees. They evolved to be pollinated by beetles. In the American South, the magnolia is deeply embedded in culture and identity. In China, magnolia (yulan) has been cultivated for centuries in temple gardens.