Magnolia sieboldii

Description

Magnolia sieboldii is a large deciduous shrub or small tree 5 – tall. The stalks, young leaves, young twigs and young buds are downy. The leaves are elliptical to ovate-oblong, 9–16 cm (rarely 25 cm) long and 4–10 cm (rarely 12 cm) broad, with a 1.5-4.5 cm petiole.

The flowers, unlike the spring flowering magnolias, open primarily in the early summer, but continue intermittently until late summer. They are pendulous, cup-shaped, 7–10 cm diameter, and have 6-12 tepals, the outer three smaller, the rest larger, and pure white; the carpels are greenish and the stamens reddish-purple or greenish-white.

Taxonomy

It was described by Karl Koch in 1853.

Subspecies

There are three subspecies:

• Magnolia sieboldii subsp. japonica from Japan Low shrub; flowers with 6 tepals and greenish-white stamens.
• Magnolia sieboldii subsp. sieboldii Japan, Korea, eastern China. Tree or large shrub; flowers with 9-12 tepals and reddish-purple stamens; leaves smaller, rarely over 16 cm.
• Magnolia sieboldii subsp. sinensis Southwestern China (Sichuan); flowers as subsp. sieboldii; leaves larger, commonly to 22 cm. File:Magnolia sieboldii bud.jpg|Flower bud File:Magnolia sieboldii flower 1.jpg|Flower, male phase File:Magnolia sieboldii flower 2.jpg|Flower File:Magnolia sieboldii flower detail.jpg|Flower detail File:Magnolia sieboldii (Siebold Magnolia) (35675925030).jpg|Immature fruit File:Magnolia sieboldii fruit.jpg|Nearly mature fruit

Cultivation

Magnolia sieboldii is grown as an ornamental tree in gardens. It is one of the hardiest magnolias, successful in cultivation as far north as Arboretum Mustila in Finland. The cultivar 'Colossus' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/178464/i-Magnolia-sieboldii-i-Colossus/Details?returnurl=%2fplants%2fsearch-results%3fform-mode%3dtrue%26context%3db%253d0%2526hf%253d10%2526l%253den%2526q%253dMagnolia%252bpegasus%2526s%253ddesc%252528plant_merged%252529%2526sl%253dplantForm%26query%3dMagnolia%2bcolossus%26aliaspath%3d%252fplants%252fsearch-results

Called mongnan or mokran (목란/木蘭), Siebold's magnolia is the national flower of North Korea.

References

• Hunt, D. (ed). (1998). Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society and Magnolia Society.
• Flora of China: Magnoliaceae (draft account)

References

1. Khela, S.. (2014). "''Magnolia sieboldii''".
2. (2015). "English Names for Korean Native Plants". [[Korea National Arboretum]].
3. "Magnolia sieboldii (Oyama Magnolia) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox".
4. ''Magnolia sieboldii'' K.Koch. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:554840-1
5. Lim, Reuben C. J.. (29 June 2013). "Floral Emblems of the world". Australian National Herbarium.