Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Common name: 
Sargent's Magnolia
Pronunciation: 
mag-NO-li-a sar-GEN-te-i ro-BUS-tah
Family: 
Magnoliaceae
Genus: 
Magnolia
Synonyms: 
Magnolia sargentiana
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree or large shrub, to 35 ft (11 m) with an equal spread, twigs outspread from base up.  Leaves oblong-obovate, 12-20 cm long, 5-8 cm wide, emarginate at the apex on older plants.  Blooms in early-mid spring, very large flowers, 20-30 cm wide, bowl shaped, up to 16 tepals (magnolia "petals"), mauve-pink on outside and pure white on the inside, erect when opening, then horizontal.
  • Seedlings flower in about 10 years and grafted plants in about 8 years.  Must be protected from wind which will tear the bloom, needs a lot of room to spread.  Not for dry areas.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 7     Native to China, especially the forests in Szechwan Province.
  • Some authorities reason that Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta is just part of the species population, and hence should be named Magnolia sargentiana.  Others are suspicious that M. sargentiana var. robusta in some hybrid of M. sargentiana.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: east side of Dixon Lodge, 11th St. and Jefferson.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowering branches

    flowering branches

  • flowers

    flowers

  • flower

    flower