Magnolia Michelia is a flowering, shrubby tree, native to China, with blue-green, leathery, evergreen leaves and large, extremely fragrant flowers. It is a fairly large tree for a magnolia, reaching more than 60 feet high in the wild. It is an early bloomer and, unlike most magnolia species, is almost entirely hairless. Magnolia Michelia does best with consistent moisture and good drainage. Plant near a patio or walkway so you can enjoy the scent especially in the mornings and early evening. Magnolia Michelia is typically grown as an ornamental and is often used as a street tree in Chinese cities. It has become popular in the American Pacific Northwest, but in the milder Southeast, flowering can commence as early as December leading to frost damage. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to chlorosis, unless provided with sufficient nitrogen, iron and magnesium. More information on Magnolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Dense; Rounded
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are leathery, oblong-elliptic or, rarely, ovate-elliptic, 2 to 7 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Blooms from February into early summer with large, fragrant, creamy white flowers. Flowers are solitary or sometimes paired on axillary shoots. Nine tepals: the outer three obovate and clawed at the base. The inner tepals gradually narrowing. Early blooms can be damaged by frost.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
Fruits 3 to 5 inches long and arranged in a spike. Dull brown with a short beak.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Bark pale grey or greyish brown.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Branches are green becoming grey and smooth.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern China to Hainan
Distribution
American Pacific Northwest.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#evergreen shrub #flowering shrub #evergreen #fragrant flowers #blue leaves #flowering tree #shrub #ornamental tree #smooth #street tree