Oyama Magnolia, Magnolia Sieboldii

The Magnolia sieboldii also known by the English name Oyama Magnolia is a species of Magnolia native to eastern Asia in China, Japan and Korea. It is named after the German physician Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) who first described it well. Magnolia sieboldii is a large shrub or small tree 5 to 10 meters high. The stems, young leaves, young twigs and young buds are downy. The leaves are elliptical to oval-oblong, 9-16 cm (rarely 25 cm) long and 4-10 cm (rarely 12 cm) wide. Its flowers, unlike other magnolias in spring, open mainly towards the beginning of summer when the tree displays all its leaves and the flowering is then spectacular and continues intermittently until the end of summer. The flowers are pendulous, very unique and measure 7 to 10 cm in diameter and are cup-shaped with 6 to 12 pure white petals. The carpels are greenish and the stamens are purple-red or greenish-white. This is probably one of the most beautiful magnolias there is and is hardy to zone 4b. Like all magnolias, it must be grown in moist, well-drained and preferably acidic soil or neutral soil in full sun or partial shade. Not all magnolias tolerate waterlogged soil. The flower buds, like those of other magnolia species, are sensitive to late frosts in May when the flowers are about to bloom. It can be pruned lightly like other magnolias, especially at a young age, to give it a beautiful shape.