Magnolia soulangeana

Today's the day .................... for a French magnolia

This wonderful magnolia tree is in flower at the moment in the garden at work. Magnolia soulangeana was initially bred by French plantsman, Étienne Soulange-Bodin (1774-1846), a retired cavalry officer in Napoleon's army, at his Château de Fromont near Paris. He crossed Magnolia denudata with M. liliiflora in 1820, and was impressed with the resulting progeny's first precocious flowering in 1826.

From France, the hybrid quickly entered cultivation in England and other parts of Europe, and also North America. Since then, plant breeders in many countries have continued to develop this magnolia, and over a hundred named horticultural varieties are now known ..................................



J'ai choisi une fleur française parce que c'est l'anniversaire de Marie-Claire aujourd'hui!