Wikimedia Commons
Magnoliaceae
Port Wine Magnolia
Michelia figo
Refined beauty.
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
- Genus
- Michelia
- Native to
- China
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- shrub
- Height
- 6-15 ft
- Sunlight
- partial shade to full sun
- Soil
- acidic, moist, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 7-10
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The small flowers emit an intense fragrance resembling ripe bananas mixed with port wine, detectable from 20 feet away.
- In Chinese gardens, it has been cultivated for over 1,000 years and is called 'banana shrub' for its fruity scent.
- The flowers never fully open, remaining partially cupped, which concentrates their fragrance for nearby pollinators.
- It is one of the most ancient flowering plant genera, with fossil records dating back 95 million years.
- A single specimen can perfume an entire courtyard, which is why it was traditionally planted near windows and seating areas in Chinese architecture.
Color meanings
0
nobility
1
purity
2
sweetness