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Parakmeria lotungensis   (syn. Magnolia lotungensis)      Magnoliaceae

Eastern Joy Lotus Tree

• Broadleaf evergreen tree, strong, erect, may reach 100 ft(30 m) high in nature, but easily maintained at a more manageable size, forms a bushy, narrow crown.  Bark a smooth pale gray.  New growth is reddish-green.  Leaves obovate-elliptic to narrowly obovate-elliptic, 6-11 cm long and 2-3.5(5) cm wide, leathery, 9-13 veins per side, base wedge-shaped, apex acuminate, glossy dark green with gray- or blue-green undersurfaces.  Flowers at shoot tips in spring, cream-yellow petals, cup-shaped, 3-6 cm long.  Fruit pinkish-red, potato-like, appear in late summer.
• Sun to part shade.  Best in reasonably well-drained, moist, acid soils.  Protect from wind.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 8b?     Native to southeastern China.