Magnolia denudata - Lockerly Arboretum

Volume 2, Issue 6
March 3, 2011
Magnolia denudata
Table of Contents
Magnolia denudata pg. 1
A native of central China, The Yulan
2011 Arbor Day
Magnolia or Lily tree, Magnolia denudata, is a
pg. 2
small, deciduous tree that flowers in late winter.
The Yulan Magnolia we have here at Lockerly
2011 Southeastern
was in full bloom last week in our front lawn,
Flower Show
and it was particularly lovely this year because
pg. 2
of the warm temperatures we have experienced
recently. This uncommon tree sports fragrant,
What’s Flowering?
ivory flowers that are goblet-shaped initially
pg. 2
and open wider with time. One of the earliest
magnolias to flower, it blooms in February,
before the leaves emerge. The tree grows slowly and
may take as long as 150 years to attain a height of
30 feet. The Yulan Magnolia has been cultivated in
Asia for over 1,500 years, and it has been a prized
specimen for southern landscapes since it was first
offered for sale by Bartram in 1814. It is not known
how old our Yulan Magnolia is, but at over twenty
feet tall, it certainly has been a part of this historic
landscape for many years. It was very popular at the
time Lockerly Hall was built. In 1853, Andrew Jackson Dowling described the tree as “the most charming of all magnolias”. The 1892 catalog from Fruitland Nurseries in Augusta listed Magnolia conspicua,
Chinese White Magnolia for $1.00. This was the most
common name used for this tree at that time, and it has
also been known as M. hepapeta. Regardless of the name, ours is a rare specimen that has survived at this site for many
years. Come visit Lockerly soon to see all the wonderful flowers in our late winter landscape!
2011 Arbor Day Program
On February 19th, Lockerly welcomed unseasonably warm weather with a successful Arbor Day program
and Bargain Plant Sale. The program began with a presentation by Executive Director Jim Garner entitled 21st
Century Trees, followed by an excellent presentation by conifer expert Flo Chaffin entitled Gone Cone Crazy:
A Craving for Conifers. Participants were then led on a tour of Lockerly’s newly designated Conifer Reference
Garden through Lockerly’s conifer collection. The leisurely walk concluded with a demonstration of proper
tree planting by Horticulture Director Bradley Roberts. Throughout the morning visitors to the Arboretum had
an opportunity to shop for trees, conifers and odds & ends at a pre-season "Bargain Plant Sale". We welcomed
participants to this event from all over the Middle Georgia area, and we are we are grateful to all those who came
out on Saturday and made the Arbor Day program and the plant sale a great success!
2011 Southeastern Flower Show
Our Executive Director, Jim Garner, was in
Atlanta last week to act as a judge for the educational
exhibits at the Southeastern Flower Show. His panel of
experts awarded 11 prizes that included the Garden Club of
Georgia Medal, the American Horticultural Society Award,
and the Governor’s Trophy. Jim’s continued association
with the Southeastern Flower Show reflects his keen
interest in horticultural education in Georgia.
What’s Flowering at Lockerly?
Camellia japonica (Japanese Camellia)
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' (Creeping Phlox)
Edgeworthia papyrifera (Paperbush)
Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda)
Heleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)
Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' (Higan Cherry)
Hepatica acutiloba (Liver Leaf)
Prunus x incamp 'Okame' (Okame Cherry)
Ipheon uniflorum (Spring Starflower)
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford Pear)
Leucojum aestivum (Spring Snowflake)
Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue' (Creeping Speedwell)
Lobularia maritima (Sweet Allysum)
Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy)
Magnolia x 'Ann' (Hybrid Magnolia)
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill' (Loebner Magnolia)
Magnolia x soulangeana (Saucer Magnolia)
Narcissus spp. (Daffodil)