The Magnolia

by John
(Houston, TX, USA)

My favorite flowering tree has to be the Magnolia. The stateliness of the tree, with its dignified Southern blooms is like no other tree. Its fragrance doesn't overpower but its bloom enchants. Interestingly enough, it isn't unique to the South, but it can be found in the Far East in Japan as stately additions, just like what one might see in Mobile, Alabama. The Magnolia got its name from Charles Plumier in 1703 who named it after French botanist Pierre Magnol, while describing the plant he first saw in Martinique. The natives originally called the tree "talauma."

The blooms have a delightful appearance to them as the fully open up, as though opening up to the peering eyes of a passerby with full knowledge of its beauty. The creamy white exteriors lead into magnificent colorful centers. However, there are others that have not a note of white at all.

While not as fragrant as the bushy gardenia, these Magnolia trees are hardy ones that are able to take a lot of abuse without much fuss. These trees can grow to enormous size in comparison to other garden trees, and there's a large variety of types to choose from, depending on one's particular climate zone.

Just about the only major problem is that they can grow to be too large, which often results in the tree's branches becoming vulnerable to storm damage. All in all, this is a quintessential tree for the South.