Plant of the month for May
Magnolia stellate (Star magnolia)
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: Japan
Accession: 1971
Location: beside Education Centre

M. stellata is a slow-growing medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree of broadly rounded habit. It blooms at a young age, with slightly fragrant 7-10 cm white flowers covering the bare plant in early spring before the leaves appear. The oblong leaves open bronze-green, turning to deep green as they mature, and yellow before dropping in autumn. It prefers moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds. It is a commonly grown ornamental, and was first introduced to the UK in 1877 or 1878, most likely by Charles Maries, while he was collecting for Veitch Nurseries.