Magnolia Flowers, Magnolia sp.
Description
Magnolias are spreading, evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs, with large, fragrant flowers that may be bowl or star-shaped, in shades of white, pink, purple, green or yellow. In deciduous species the flowers often appear before the leaves, during the Spring. Magnolias are an ancient tree family, believed to have evolved about 95 Million years ago, long before the appearance of bees. It is widely thought that they evolved to encourage pollination by beetles and it's very likely that even some dinosaurs would have snacked on them (a fact that Arthur especially loves!). Magnolias are a very popular ornamental tree, so are commonly found in urban spaces, including parks and gardens. The flowers of many species are edible and can be eaten raw, or pickled.
Magnolia Flowers Checklist
Habitat
🏡 Urban Green Spaces, including scrubland, parks and gardens.
🏢 Urban Environments, wasteland, Streets and pavements.
Season
🌸 Feb - Apr
Flowers
🌷 Very distinctive large, star or bowl-shaped, flowers, usually with six petals and in a multitude of colours. Common edible varieties are white and pink.
Edible Parts
🌷 Flowers
Aroma / Taste
👃 Floral Aroma.
👅 Flower petals are sweet, crunchy and sometimes spicy.
ID Notes
🟩 ID Difficulty - Beginner
👀 Magnolia trees are very distinctive during the spring months due to their tendency to flower prior to the formation of leaves. The large, beautiful flowers are a key identifier.
Uses
🥗 Salad - can be eaten raw and added to salads.
🌺 Garnish - Can be used as a garnish.
🧉 Condiment - Can be used to make pickles, preserves and sauces.