My mother has a white star magnolia that she planted 45 years ago in North Vancouver, BC. This year, instead of the usual white flowers, it's now covered entirely in pink flowers for the very first time since it was planted. Could it due to climate conditions prior to flowering? Or do old magnolias revert back to parent characteristics?
I've had my white star magnolia for about ten years and the same thing happened this spring. The flowers are all pink, and I've been curious about the reason as well.
This is not an answer. I'm finding these reports so curious - several of the 'Akebono' cherries are less pink this year, paler buds and opening white right away.