Photos of some of my Varieties of Magnolias:
Cowcumber Magnolia
Completely Opened Blossom
- Magnolia ashei: (Which I called the "Cowcumber Tree" when I was growing up) Also called the "Swamp Magnolia" or bigleaf magnolia -- A white flowering, leaf-losing tree of eastern and southern North America, which has huge, elongated leaves and large, fragrant flowers that form conspicuous red fruit. This magnolia blossom has seven petals. The leaves are larger than those of the Magnolia grandiflora, and are not as thick and leathery. They are not easily found at nurseries, nor are they as abundant as the grandiflora, but because of their scarcity, are even more magical.
"Cowcumber Magnolia" Bud unfurling
Looking down into the center of the "Cowcumber Magnolia". Notice the purple coloration of the petals close to the pod. This can be seen on all of the petals.
Unfortunately, the neighbor's tree was killed by them when transplanting the too-large tree to another area and not watering it enough. Then, the two little ones that I have tried to grow just didn't do well. One died; the other struggles for three years and was finally leafing out and taking hold and that damned Katrina came along and the salt water got it and even though it leafed out at the bottom after several months, it now looks like it is dying. The verdict will be in next spring. Unfortunately, I don't know of any more around here that bloom.
(Update - it survived Katrina, died back three times last summer and finally died for good during the winter of 2006-2007. I have an e-mail friend in Mobile who sends me photos of her Cowcumter trees and flowers and they are huge. I plan to go see her next year and photograph them.)
Bay Tree, or Sweetbay Magnolia
Fully-opened Blossom
- The Sweetbay, or Bay Tree Magnolia has much smaller leaves and flowers, and isn't a very full tree. The leaves are a light olive color, and the buds and blossoms are really tiny and delicate, but look like the grandiflora except they don't open as fully. Usually the outer petals open and the inner ones stay cupped. The blossom isn't much larger than 2" across, and they smell fantastic.
Tiny, unopened bud of the Sweet Bay Magnolia
Partially-opened Sweetbay Tree Blossom
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More Photos of the Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia Grandiflora
Oriental, or Japanese Magnolia
Magnolia Soulangeana
Japanese Magnolia bud that hasn't quite started to open. As it opens, it becomes lighter, and inside is much lighter than the outside. The tree is beautiful in full bloom.
Unique view of the inside of the flower.
The center is gorgeous, dark magenta with a tiny seed pod
forming in the middle.
Another view of the same blossom.
Magnolia pyramidata
This past year (2005), I learned about a new variety of Magnolia - the Pyramid Magnolia. I learned that there are some of them around South Mississippi and went on a trek to find one and photograph it. Sure enough, after climbing hill and dale and mucking through the mud of the creek where it was supposed to be I found it. After not seeing one on the long hike and, discouraged, got in the car to come home, I spotted the tree right by the side of the road and in bloom. Here is what it looks like:
It has leaves more like the Bigleaf Magnolia, or cowcumber, for they are thin and leathery, and deciduous. The Pyramid magnolia is an uncommon tree. The terminal flowers are white and fragrant and the rosy-red seed pods are two and a half inches long. To grow successfully it needs acidic, sandy, moist soils and lots of shade. However, this one was on a little hill and in almost full sun. You never can tell.
