MAGNOLIA : LES MEILLEURES ESPÈCES ET VARIÉTÉS. CULTURE, HISTOIRE ET BOTANIQUE AVEC PATRICK ET ROLAND

Magnolias are spectacular trees whose magnificent blooms occur in some species before the leaves appear in many deciduous species and during the summer in evergreens. One-fifth of the 246 species of magnolias are native to North America, with the remainder found in Southeast Asia. Magnolias are estimated to have appeared on Earth nearly 100 million years ago. They are among the oldest flowering plants still existing today (along with water lilies). The first magnolia was discovered in China by Father Charles Plumier (1646-1706), one of the greatest botanical explorers of the seventeenth century, who was also the "inventor" of the begonia. He created the genus Magnolia in honor of Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), creator of the Montpellier Botanical Garden. The 2009 APG III phylogenetic classification now accepts only three genera: Magnolia, of course, Liriodendron, and Michelia, of which only one valid species remains: Michelia alba, the others having been integrated into the Magnolia family. Unlike most other flowering plants, which have their floral parts arranged in successive circles, those of the Magnoliaceae are spirally arranged, which is considered a primitive characteristic. After three days of temperatures approaching 15°C, the spring magnolias begin to bloom. The buds open on branches that are still bare. The flowering period lasts approximately three weeks. The flowers, borne at the tips of the branches, are cup-shaped with thick, waxy petals. Most often white or cream in color, there are also pink or purple cultivars. Magnolia x loebneri: a small tree, 5 to 6 m tall, very floriferous with fragrant white flowers, 8 to 10 cm in diameter, in March and April. Its cultivar 'Leonard Messel' is a large shrub, 3 to 4 m tall, with pink flowers, borne on almost horizontal branches. The silky white flower buds form at the tips of the branches, making the plant very decorative during the winter. Magnolia x soulangeana: forms a small tree, 5 m tall, with large, downy leaves on the underside. Flowers in 15 cm diameter cups appear with the leaves in April. 'Lennei' has purple flowers. Magnolia stellata: the star magnolia is a beautiful, spreading shrub, 3 m tall, whose fragrant white star-shaped flowers appear from March on the bare plant. They are finely cut into 12 to 30 segments and reach 7 cm in diameter. 'Rosea' is pink, 'Water Lily' is compact, pure white, and fragrant. 'Gold Star' offers large, fragrant, creamy-yellow, star-shaped flowers from March. The flowers of Magnolia Stellata (star-shaped flowers) with a scent of honey and jasmine are surprising crystallized in sugar to decorate cakes. Among the evergreen magnolias, the most cultivated is Magnolia grandiflora, a large tree with a pyramidal shape and glossy, leathery, dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers in large cups from July to September. Several varieties (cultivars) are available, including the famous "Galissoniensis," which was brought to Nantes by Admiral Rolland Michel Barrin, Count of La Galissonnière (1693-1756). Patrick also briefly introduces some very interesting but lesser-known species: Magnolia campbellii, M. hypoleuca, M. kobus, M. sieboldii, and M. tripetala. Magnolias are considered acid-loving plants, although they are suitable for neutral soil. It is recommended to mix peat and forest compost with the garden soil when planting. Indeed, this tree appreciates a high presence of organic matter in the soil. This video features the entire "Feature" section from issue 47 of the major weekly podcast (audio and video) "Bienvenue au Jardin!", a unique and exclusive program on NewsJardinTV. This highly varied program offers you an hour of plants, nature, gardens, botany, and gardening. It is posted online every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. "Bienvenue au Jardin!" » is a podcast (an internet radio show) whose audio version you can listen to anytime on major podcast platforms: Apple iTunes, Google Podcast, Deezer, Spotify, Podcast Addict, as well as on Soundcloud and the website newsjardintv.com. We hope you enjoy this video. Thank you all for your loyalty to our channel and for your kind comments. They're a wonderful encouragement! See you soon for new gardening adventures, and see you next Saturday for a new edition of "Bienvenue au Jardin!" on NewsJardinTV, of course!