Photograph Works

Record It At All Stages Of Its Life

Magnolia grandiflora flower and leaves

Two years ago I posted a photo of the Magnolia Grandiflora in flower. Last year I waited impatiently for it to flower. On the plant ‘open day’ I asked one of the gardeners what caused the flower to open so much later than the other magnolias.

He pointed out that the grandiflora is an evergreen whereas the others are deciduous. That’s not an explanation in itself, but it does explain why there might be differences in the flowering season between it and all the other magnolias in the botanic garden.

This year I photographed a flower towards the end of its flowering and also after it turned brown, and here are the shots.

As I said in an earlier article, you cannot tell how big the flower is from the photo: It is about as wide as a desert plate, with the white flowers maybe 18cm (7 inches) across.

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2 responses to “Record It At All Stages Of Its Life”

  1. Deb Weyrich-Cody

    You ask why the Grandiflora blooms so much later than the others, David? My theory is ‘efficiency’… Ensuring that pollinators’ harvest is spread out over the entire season means better, more thorough pollination and ensures a constant food source. Good for plants, good for pollinators: )

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    1. David Bennett

      On thinking further about it, Cambridge is not its native habitat so it is not in its comfort zone, which might account for its late blooming. In its native habitat it blooms in late Spring, according to the oracle (Wikipedia), which says Southern magnolias are native to the Southeastern United States, from Virginia south to central Florida, and then west to East Texas.
      Also, it is found on the edges of bodies of water and swamps, in association with sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), water oak (Quercus nigra), and black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica).

      I will look out for the other trees next time I visit – one thing though is that the tree in the garden is no more than fifty feet from a little stream – so I guess whoever planted it knew a thing or two.

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