Kobushi magnolia
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 Kobushi magnolia (Magnolia kobus) flowers.
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| Magnolia kobus |
The Kobushi Magnolia is a species of Magnolia native to Japan. It is a deciduous, small tree which has a slow rate of growth but can reach twenty-five feet in height and thirty-five feet in width.
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[edit] Appearance
It blooms in the early spring, showing white flowers with hints of pale pink which are approximately four inches in diameter and have a pleasant fragrance. The flowers are produced before the leaves, as with most members of the Magnolia subgenus Yulania. Young trees do not flower. The fruit of the Kobushi magnolia grows in groups of small red seeds. The groupings are one to three inches in size, and the seeds attract birds.
The summer foliage of the Kobushi magnolia is dark green. Leaves have an obovate shape with a pointed tip, a smooth, or glabrous, leaf underside, and smooth, even edges. Leaves are three to six inches long and grow in an alternating arrangement. In autumn, leaves take on a yellow color and drop from the tree.
Older bark, such as that of the trunk, is grey-brown, while new stems are green with small brown spots. There is a strong odor when branches or twigs are broken.
[edit] Culture
The Kobushi magnolia prefers full sun to partial shade, rich, well-drained soil, and is tolerant of acidic soils. It can be propagated either by seed or by cuttings.
[edit] Relation to the Star Magnolia
The Kobushi magnolia is closely related to Magnolia stellata, the Star Magnolia, and some authorities consider the Star magnolia to be a variety of M. kobus.
