shrub, that is! The buds of my Michelia/Magnolia figo have opened to release their wonderful fragrance. Is yours blooming yet, jimmyq? Are there other fans of this plant here in these forums?
nope, not yet. I put it back outside (I try to keep it overwinter in the sunniest living room window which isnt terribly sunny) after the cold snap we had in Jan/Feb. it is budded and the leaves seem happy. probably a few weeks at least. isnt the smell great? too bad we can have Emerils "smell O vision" over the internet, would be one worth sharing I think.
You had yours indoors? Did it suffer any leaf loss? Did you have to take any special precautions? The plant that I have is last year's survivor from my experiment to find the right growing conditions. It's not in the greatest condition. I might pick up a nicer one this year. There appears to be subtle differences in M. figo specimens depending on the source. Some have more delicate leaves and smoother, lighter bark. Some are more fragrant than others. Many years ago, Mandeville gardens had some that came from the states that smelled like turpentine - yuck.
I put it in the living room, right next to the sliding door for a couple three weeks over January when it was chilly out. it is still in the 1 gallon pot and mine came direct from Piroche Plants (pitt meadows wholesaler). It did drop a few leaves and there was some yellowing, I dont think it likes it in side but if it knew how chilly it was outside it wouldnt have complained as much I dont think.
Does anyone have the correct web page address for Piroche Plants. I recently purchased a cornus omeiense and Manglietia insignis from, of all places, Canadian Tire, and would like more information on the plants.
It is www.pirocheplants.com I just tried to log on however and was unable to. I called the company and they verified that url. So if you cannot access the website right now, try later. (Oh, um... OK banana shrub. I was going to say banana is not a woody plant.)
The site's still down. I copy/pasted the information from their catalog: Code: Manglietia insignis ( syn Magnolia insignis) (Red Lotus Tree) WILD DRAGONâ„¢ SERIES H:7-15m Z:7 L/U: solitary Large, evergreen, magnolia-like tree with long, leathery, glossy-green leaves and fragrant, creamy-white, terminal flowers with reddish-pink, outer petals in May-June followed by dark, purple-red, elongated fruit. Prefers full sun to partial shade. Selected and introduced by Piroche Plants, 1993. (Southern/Southwestern China) Eric, this thread should be in the Magnolia forum.
A banana shrub has grown outdoors for years in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle. See the web site of Arthur Lee Jacobson for photo and discussion. Magnolia (Manglietia) insignis was in Western cultivation by 1934. One in Berkeley, CA, planted in 1981 was 24' tall by 1993. Cornus capitata ssp. emeiensis has made 2 shapely, full, heavily budded specimens at Seattle University. All others I have seen down here have not been impressive.
