Look for the dramatic blooms of Magnolia campbellii encircling the Great Meadow.

Scientific Name Magnolia campbellii Common Name   Family Magnoliaceae Plant Type Perennial, deciduous Environment Prefers full sun, well drained soil, prune after flowering. Protect from strong winds. Extensive root system: don't plant close to foundations. Bloom Large showy pink or white petals; "cup and saucer" blooms. White variety "Strybing White" first cultivated and named here in the 1960's. Very early flowering. Uses Flower buds and bark used as a tonic, astringent. More Info The National Magnolia Society Evolution of Magnolias

Look high on the skyline of the Garden, east or west, and you¹ll see the flamboyant pink or white petals of Magnolia campbellii mingling with the evergreen treetops of cypress and pine. As early as December they begin to bloom, their distinctive "cup and saucer" shaped flowers appearing before the leaves. M. campbellii is native to the Himalayas, growing at altitudes 8000' -12,000' there and reaching 150' in height!

Considered one of the most primitive of plants, magnolias grew all over the northern hemisphere before the ice age, along with ginkgos and redwoods.
Pollinated by beetles, one of earth's oldest insects, the stamens and pistils of magnolias are spirally arranged on an elongated axis and encircled by "tepals," a combination of identical petals and sepals.

Today 220 species of the magnolia family can be found in Japan, China, Malaysia, Mexico and eastern United States. They thrive in cold winters and wet springs when the heavy moisture breaks down the nutrients in the soil their roots demand. San Francisco's chilly fog and temperate ocean climate seem to provide just what they need.

Contributors: Docents Joanne Taylor and Kathy McNeil