\\Magnolia Collection now admiring the flowering of magnolia varieties Soulange's magnolia<\/strong> (Magnolia <\/em>\u00d7soulangeana<\/em>). It is most popular both internationally and in Poland. This magnolia was bred long ago, around 1820 near Paris by a former Napoleonic officer and later director of the Royal Horticultural Institute, Etienne Soulange-Bodin. It was developed from a cross between two Chinese species: the white-flowered naked magnolia and the purple magnolia. There are about 50 varieties of this magnolia in the world.<\/p>\n In the collection in Powsin, the oldest specimens were brought in the 1980s from the Institute of Dendrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Currently flowering varieties Soulange's magnolias, <\/strong>among others: <\/strong><\/p>\n 'Speciosa'<\/strong> A very old variety selected in 1825 in France. It has very large flowers, 20 cm in diameter, with petals pinkish or white on top.<\/p>\n 'Lennei'<\/strong> A variety selected in 1854 in Italy. It has a distinctive flower shape, resembling a pear. Flowers are purplish-pink on the outside, almost white on the inside. It generally blooms in late April and early May. It often repeats flowering in summer: in July and August.<\/p>\n The earliest flowering Asian species are finishing flowering. Star magnolia<\/strong> (Magnolia stellata<\/em>) with fragrant flowers composed of 12-18 white petals (in cultivars even more), in the wild it grows only in the mountains on the island of Honsiu in Japan. Japanese magnolia<\/strong> (Magnolia kobus<\/em>) In the wild it is found in Japan and Korea. Its flowers are slightly fragrant, only up to 10 cm in diameter, composed of 6-9 white petals (tepals), pinked at the base.<\/p>\n Beautifully blooming yet Japanese magnolia<\/strong> northern variety<\/strong> (Magnolia kobus <\/em>var. borealis<\/em>). It naturally occurs in the northern part of the island of Honsiu and in Hokkaido. Flowers similar to those of Japanese magnolia can reach 12 cm in diameter, creamy white and slightly fragrant In Powsin, age-old, more than thirty-year-old specimens grow in the main Collection at the Arboretum.<\/p>\n Of interest, a variety selected at the PAN Botanical Garden CZRB in Powsin by Dr. Andrzej Marczewski is in full bloom: Magnolia 'Pink Glory'. <\/strong>It blooms pink generally in late April and early May. It is a highly hardy tree with a narrow habit.<\/p>\n We encourage you to admire the magnolia flowers!<\/p>\n Text: Agnieszka Kosciellak<\/p>\n Photos: Radomir Rek<\/p>\n