FOTD : Japanese Magnolia

Japanese magnolias are in bloom everywhere right now, possibly signifying an early spring. It’s one of the most strikingly beautiful blooming trees this time of year.

Also known as saucer magnolia, it is a small, deciduous shrub (botanically speaking) but grows tall. It can be trained like a tree to grow from one main trunk, similar to the way crape myrtles are grown. The tree is a hybrid cross of two species of magnolias, M. liliiflora and M. denudate, and its Latin name is Magnolia x soulangeana.