Magnolia x soulangea Soulang’s magnolia, Saucer magnolia   Z 4-9

Magnolia named for Pierre Magnol, Montpellier professor of medicine and director of the botanic garden. (1638-1715) This one is a cross in early 1800’s of Magnolia heptapeta & M. liliiflora by Etienne Soulange-Bodin, founder of France’s National Horticultural Society and Director of the French Royal Institute. Bailey: “A magnificent tree.” April 29, 1876 “the Garden” reported it to be “a fine showy flowering shrub…(that) grows freely and flowers in a young state.”