Bigleaf Magnolia

Our Magnolia macrophylla is in full flower, with its large citrus-scented flowers striking in the evening light. A rare plant, discovered by botanical explorer Andre Michaux, native to only a few places in the Carolinas, it's an adaptable garden plant for us. Deciduous, its winter buds and branching patterns make an architectural statement.

The largest leaves of any North American tree bring comments from the schoolchildren -- they're quite impressive on the large specimens that we have. People are always surprised that we have native magnolias here that are deciduous in addition to Southern Magnolia (M. grandiflora), which is a world traveler, being planted in practically every continent except Antarctica.