“Saucy” magnolias

It is about this time of year that I begin to hope and pray that we don’t have another hard frost. With just a few warm, sunny days this week, my garden is popping out all over. Forget me nots, English primrose, violets, spring beauty are all putting forth a few brave blooms. But it is the saucy, bold and stunningly beautiful saucer magnolia that is in full and vibrant bloom right now – and the one that is most susceptible to losing all that beauty if we have a late frost.

Saucer magnolia is a hybrid between Japanese ( or Mulan) magnolia and a white flowering magnolia native to central and eastern China. This species was grown in Chinese Buddhist temples as long ago as 600 AD, not for its great beauty but for the buds which were used in medicine and as flavoring for rice. The flowers were appreciated as well and were considered a symbol of purity. Even today this tree is the floral symbol for Shanghai.

The blossoms of saucer magnolia are varying shades of white, light pink, magenta and purple-pink. Surrounded by thick, fuzzy sepals, the buds are protected from the cold – until they burst forth into bloom. The bark is a smooth gray and the leaves, which only appear after the tree has fully bloomed are leathery and bright green. Mature trees grow to be about 25 feet tall.

Our own great southern magnolia is huge in comparison, growing 80 feet tall with a spread of as much as 40 feet across. The creamy white blossoms usually have six petals and are highly fragrant. Another native, the cucumber magnolia, is found in eastern forests and was at one time substituted for quinine to treat malaria or typhoid.

I love all the magnolias but have a special fondness for the “saucy” saucer magnolia for braving the uncertain weather of early spring to bring us such a magnificent show.