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Magnolia stellata

Common name:	Star Magnolia	Family:	Magnoliaceae
Author:	(Siebold.&Zucc.)Maxim.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat:	Woods in mountains. Found only in the mountains to the north-east of Nagoya[11].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	M. kobus var. stellata[G] M. stellata var. rosea[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Side-Kobusi [E], Star Magnolia [H,P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	stellata = starry;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Magnoliales. Magnolia family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Japan

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 5m by 5m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 4 and is frost tender. It is in flower from March to April. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Beetles. We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young leaves - cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[177].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Best grown in a warm position in a moderately rich free soil of an open texture[1]. Succeeds in acid or neutral soils in sun or part shade[184]. Tolerates alkaline soils so long as they are deep and rich in humus[188]. Prefers plenty of humus in the soil[11]. The branches are brittle so a sheltered position is required[200]. Very tolerant of atmospheric pollution[200].
Dormant plants are hardy to about -15°c[184].
The fleshy roots are easily damaged and any transplanting is best done during a spell of mild moist weather in late spring[182].
A very ornamental plant, the flowers start to be produced when the plant is only 2 years old and have a delicate sweet perfume[245], though they are easily damaged by frost or wind[1]. A number of cultivars have been developed for their ornamental value[200]. Plants are slow-growing[202].
Very closely related to M. kobus and possibly no more than a geographical form of that species[182].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed must be kept cold over the winter and should be sown in late winter in a cold frame[200]. The seed usually germinates in the spring but it can take 18 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions when they are more than 15cm tall, though should be well mulched and given some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors.
Layering in early spring[200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, early summer in a frame[202].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers hve a delicate sweet perfume[245].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Magnoliaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Magnolia+stellata
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