Manglietia seed

LATIN NAME: MANGLIETIA FORDANA

COMMON NAME: Chinese Manglietia

The Chinese manglietia lotuses the tall, evergreen tree with the glossy, leathery, oblong leaves and the large, cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers that open through the late spring, each bloom with the many broad, fleshy petals around the boss of the crimson stamens, the cone-like clusters of the red seeds following in the autumn. The crown holds the deep green through the year, and the tree grows into the upright, stately form. It likes the sun or the part shade, and the deep, moist, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The large, lotus-like flowers of the Chinese manglietia give it a recognised place in the research on the primitive flowering trees of the magnolia family, and the fordana species appears in the studies of the flower structure and the humid-forest growth. The work looks at the crimson stamen boss, the red seed clusters, and the seed biology. The botanists note the ancient lineage, and the growers of the stately evergreen magnolias keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the warm, sheltered garden and the park, the Chinese manglietia lotuses the spring branches with the creamy blooms. The cup-shaped flowers scent the late spring, the red seeds feed the birds, and the timber serves the local joinery. It thrives in the deep, moist, well-drained, sunny or lightly shaded ground. Stately, lotus-flowered and evergreen.

To grow the Chinese Manglietia from seed, sow the fresh seeds into the damp, leafy drills of the seedbed in the autumn, then cover them lightly, keep the bed moist, and the young trees come up once the bed is settled.

Keep the bed gently watered, and give the young trees the sheltered, sunny spot. The lotus blooms come in a few seasons. Settle the young trees in the deep, moist ground, and the lotus blooms will open over the late spring.

This rare tropical and stunning member of the Magnolia family is evergreen tree getting between 25-30 feet and 10' to 15' wide. It is upright-oval in form and has attractive grey-brown bark. The leaves droop gracefully along the stems and are up to 10" long. Pink flower buds appear late fall to winter and open anytime from February to July, depending on climate. Has huge fragrant creamy white magnolia-like flowers cream or pink-tinged within, pale pink to red without. Spikes of purplish red fruits later decorate the plant.
Grow in humus-rich, moist but well drained soil in full sun to light shade.