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The Queensland Gardening Pages

Information & resources about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld

Magnolia

including Michelia

Magnolias are sought after all over the world primarily for their flowers, which are either spectacularly beautiful, fabulously fragrant, and sometimes both. But even when not in flower, these plants can be appreciated for their form and foliage. Depending on the species and cultivar chosen, they can be useful as feature trees or screening hedges. More...
On other pages:

Nurseries supplying Magnolias and Michelias to Qld

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NATIONAL TROPICAL PLANTS


National Tropical Plants is a Queensland-based online nursery specialising in plants for the tropics and subtropics.

Range includes natives and exotics, edibles and ornamentals, beautiful flowering shrubs and lush tropical foliage plants, old favourites and the rare and unusual.

There are palms, cycads, cordylines, succulents, bougainvilleas, hibiscus, oleanders in many colours and a selection of azaleas suitable for warm climates to choose from.

Edibles include a range of dwarf coconuts varieties and the tropical mangosteen.

To check the current availability of these plants and many more, or to place an order, visit the National Tropical Plants WEBSITE .

TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN NURSERY

176 Long Road,
Eagle Heights, Qld 4271
Ph: (07) 5545 4999
tambnursery@iprimus.com.au
Tambourine Mountain Nursery offers a range of beautiful plants, specialising in classic temperate-climate species and many others that are difficult to find elsewhere in the Brisbane/Gold Coast region.

Range includes plants such as camellias, wisterias, conifers, acers, brugmansias, gingko, birches, liquidambar, viburnums, michelias plus a many varieties of evergreen and deciduous magnolias. White, variegated and portwine jacarandas.

Phone ahead to confirm availablity or arrange an order. Wholesale and retail.

While general garden centres may carry a limited range, this section is intended for nurseries which might be considered Magnolia or Michelia specialists, for customers seeking a greater selection or rare varieties. If you operate such a nursery, click here: Advertising information

If you want plants in large sizes for instant landscapes, also check the Advanced Plants page.

More about Magnolias and Michelias

Magnolias are generally suited to temperate climates. In Queensland, residents of elevated areas like Toowoomba or Tamborine Mountain are going to have the best chance of success with magnolias, particularly the deciduous species.

A few magnolias can be grown in warmer regions, notably cultivars of M. grandiflora ('Little Gem' is a very popular cultivar), and members of the former genus Michelia.

Note that Michelia and several other closely related genera have recently been incorporated with the Magnolia.
    Classification of Magnoliaceae
    Genera of Magnoliaceae Germplasm Resources Information Network, USDA

However, you'll probably see them for sale under the old names for a time, in addition to older texts (and links).

News item: Magnolia species face uncerain future in the wild
The Red List of the Magnoliaceae released in April 2007 suggests that over half of the world's known Magnolia species face extinction in the wild. Information in the report will be useful in planning conservation efforts in the wild and in botanic gardens' living collections. Read more here: Magnolias - Bloom and Doom? (Brooklyn Botanic Garden)


Some species and cultivars you might find on the market in Queensland, plus links to more information:

Magnolia grandiflora

This species is covered on a separate page: Magnolia grandiflora (includes Magnolia 'Little Gem')

Magnolia delavayii

Magnolia delavayi Urban Forest Ecosystems, California Polytechnic State University

Magnolia x soulangeana

This hybrid magnolia is a very popular worldwide. There are many cultivars.
Magnolia X soulangeana Auburn University
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) Dendrology at Virginia Tech
Magnolia soulangiana Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida

Magnolia lilliflora

Best known by the above name, although now also known as Magnolia quinquepeta. A cultivar is 'Nigra'.
Egg Magnolia Magnolia liliifera. at Flowers of India

Magnolia sprengeri

'Diva' is a cultivar.

Various

Dwarf Magnolia Magnolia coco. at Flowers of India
Campbell's Magnolia Magnolia campbelli. at Flowers of India
Magnolia x 'Elizabeth'
Magnolia x 'Caerhays Belle'


The Michelias


The (former) Michelias offer a wider choice for the tropics and subtropics than the "classic" magnolias. While the flowers may not be as impressive visually, the Michelias are notable for their fragrance.

Magnolia figo (Michelia figo)

Commonly known as the "Port Wine Magnolia", this is the Michelia most familiar to Queenslanders.
Synonyms: Magnolia fuscata or Michelia fuscata
Links
Port Wine Magnolia, Magnolia 'Coco' At "Grow Me Instead" (an Australian website informing gardeners about safer alternatives to invasive ornamentals)
Michelia figo Part of "Homepage Ton Hannink", Netherlands (in Dutch)
Michelia Figo - Port Wine Magnolia Serenas Secret Gardens blog, Melbourne
Port wine magnolia with yellow leaves Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
Michelia figo Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida
What smells like banana but is not a banana? (Michelia figo) Gardening with Wilson, Singapore

Magnolia champaca (Michelia champaca)

This tree is popular in tropical regions of the world.
Links
Michelia champaca James Cook University, Qld
Champaca, Joy Perfume Tree Magnolia champaca. Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Champa Magnolia champaca. Flowers of India
Golden Champa Magnolia champaca. Flowers of India
Michelia champaca AgroForestryTree Database
Michelia champaca Trees of Miami, Florida, USA
Members' Day Plant Sale, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Florida, USA. see notes on M. champaca including cultural uses in Asia.

Fairy MagnoliaTM

Jury evergreen Magnolias or Michelias Notes on varieties bred by the Jury family, including 'MicJUR01' (Fairy MagnoliaTM Blush)

Michelia yunnanensis (Magnolia dianica)

Links
Magnolia dianica 'Michelle' - Magnoliaceae Notes on the origin and qualities of this cultivar of what was previously Michelia yunnanensis. In: Friends of the Arboretum Newsletter, Fall 2006 - Volume 10, Number 2. JC Raulston Arboretum, NC State University

Some other species and cultivars you might see on the market (it's hoped to have more information about these for you in future updates):
Michelia alba
Michelia doltstopa
Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud'

More Links

The following are for general information, research and ideas - some species or cultivars referred to in links may be unavailable in Australia or unsuitable for Queensland conditions

Magnolia diary A variety of information from NZ Magnolia breeders, Mark and Abbie Jury
Walking Around Dinosaurs: Magnolias in Full Bloom Some interesting facts about magnolias. Post at "This Garden Is Illegal" (Blog)
Evergreen Magnolias in: The Trillium, Piedmont Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society newsletter. Includes discussion about selecting cold-tolerant cultivars
Michelias and Manglietias - Some of the Other Magnolias Discusses several of the less commonly grown Magnolia of the former genera Michelia and Manglietia. In: Friends of the Arboretum Newsletter, Summer 2007 - Volume 11, Number 1. JC Raulston Arboretum, NC State University
Magnolia denudata San Francisco Botanical Garden
Magnolia denudata University of Florida
Magnolia insignis UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia, Canada
Magnolia stellata Auburn University
Magnolia virginiana Auburn University
Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana. Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Talauma hodgsonii University of California Los Angeles
Magnolia glauca Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida
Yellow leaves on michelia Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
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