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Monday, June 30, 2008

Magnolia Flowers »

Magnolia FlowersWhat would it be like to have a garden with flora highly perfumed for flowers? I can almost see smiling faces and nodding heads of those who already have magnolia plants on their gardens.

Yes, magnolia flowers are very fragrant that you don’t need air fresheners any more as you can smell them from a distance. Would you like to have natural air freshener in your own homes? Well if you do, let us find out what could be done, but first let’s familiarize with the plant.

Magnolias are considered to be one of the most primitive of all flowering plants, which have a group of over a hundred species of trees and large shrubs in the subfamily of Magnolioodeae of the family Magnoiaceae.

Magnolia flowers have typically showy, well scented that come in shades of white, pink, green, yellow, or purple. But did you know magnolia flowers are neither pollinated by bees or butterflies?

Hmm, if that is the case then what does? Actually, it is the beetles that typically pollinate magnolia flowers.

Interestingly, magnolia flowers do not produce nectar, although they generate large amount of pollen. Due to the abundance of pollen, beetles are having a good time consuming them for food.

Another fascinating characteristic of magnolia is its fruits. The flowers are followed by, like the blossom itself, showy fruits in red and pink colors that display red, orange, or pink seeds each of which hangs from the fruit by a slim strand.

You can plant magnolias in different soils and climates, but they are usually associated with moist soils in varied deciduous and coniferous woods. This kind of foliage has been utilized for timber and even for medicinal purposes.

However, the interesting magnolia flowers with irresistible fragrance, gorgeous large leaves, eye catching fruits, and plant forms in general are the main reasons why many people opt to cultivate magnolia in the first place besides the fact that they are easy to grow and relatively pest free.

Most of them are evergreen and stay pretty all throughout the year, making them perfect touch on your backyard or front yard. If you prefer smaller shrubs for your garden, they are available as well. Whatever your preferences, there are classes of magnolias that best suit to your liking.

The best time to plant magnolia may differ according to the class of the plant. For example, evergreen magnolias, which include southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora and sweetbay magnolia, and Magnolia Virginian are most preferred to be planted in early spring, while deciduous magnolias are best planted in autumn or early spring.

In the southern part, autumn is the better time to consider planting magnolias where as northern gardeners choose spring.

You might find this information helpful if you want to see magnolia flowers blossoming from their plant, if it survives. Additionally, add some mulch after planting to control the condition of soil temperatures and moisture.

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