Sargent's Magnolia                mag-NO-li-a sar-GEN-te-i ro-BUS-tah

• 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 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.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: east side of Dixon Lodge, 11th St. and Jefferson.