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Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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Posted by wonbyherwits z7 NC (My Page) on Wed, Jan 31, 07 at 22:16
| Is anyone growing a Michelia figo in the Triangle area? If so, do deer bother yours? Do you like the scent?
Thanks!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| Michelia is a close relative of the Magnolias. There is a Michelia foggii 'Picotee' at the JC Raulston Arboretum and there is a Michelia x Magnolia hybrid there, but no M. figo. M. figo is hardy only down to z. 8, according to Dave's Garden. There are pictures and other information re M. figo in Dave's Garden Plant Finder. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Info re Michilia figo in Dave's Garden
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| Ralphw: thanks for the link. I have seen one at a local nursery, but it just says michelia figo without any information on variety such as the port wine. It's a beautiful thing! The info says it is zone 7-10, evergreen, sun/pt sun, 10x8, banana-scented flowers in late spring. I'm game to try it if the deer will just stay off of it! They've been nibbling my illicium (anise) tree and hypericums! |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I'd be surprised if the flower buds weren't damaged in your zone. A lot of folks have trouble growing this plant, for a variety of reasons. Best of luck in your attempt! To me, the flowers smell just like banana popsicles! |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I've got Michelia skinneriana, which is supposed to be just a tad hardier (zone 7b). I'm 7a, so I'm pushing it even there, but I planted it up by the house to try and squeeze out the extra half zone. It's tolerated single digits with just a little foliage damage, but it's still too young to really see how well it will bloom there. This year it has lots of buds though -- I'll know more this spring after I see if they made it past last night. I hope so, because I love the fragrance. Not much trouble with deer, although they'll taste anything and have tried the michelia along with everything else in my garden. |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I have a protected area where it can be planted. I still have green scabiosa, agastache, penstemon, and nepeta on the south and east sides of my garden. My calla lily even came back up in my waterfall after I had cut it back for winter. It gets encased in ice on these cold days, but it's still going strong. Karen_w: do you think the fragrance will interfere with my sweet bay magnolia magnolia virginiana blooms? Since the michelia figo is related to magnolia, I'm wondering if they will bloom at the same time. The leaf shape and blossom shape is very similar. |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I don't know how much the bloom times overlap. I don't think the fragrances would clash, both are fruity but in different ways, so it might actually be a pleasant experience. |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| thanks for the feedback. I'm putting together my "wish list" for spring planting. |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I grow it in the colder Triad--my plant survived last winter in a nursery pot and appears to have made it through this winter in the ground (not sure about the buds yet). The flowers really do smell like bananas, at least on warm days (not so much when it's chilly). It seems to be happy with pretty much the same conditions as gardenias (it's growing between them), so if you can get gardenias to grow, they don't appear to be any more difficult than those (in a wind-sheltered area with the right light/water/soil/fertilizer/etc.). |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I found out last week that there is after all a Michelia figo growing at JC Raulston Arboretum. The reason that I missed it before was that this plant has been reclassified as a Magnolia. Specifically it is Magnolia figo 'Stubbs Purple' and is located in the Winter Garden. I have been told that renaming of plants is a frequent occurance and is a real headache for anyone who tries to keep the plant labels current. |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| I think a lot of plants were subsumed into the Magnolia genus a few years ago. Now if you buy a plant with the currently correct name, you also have to find out the older classification before you can really research it. It can be annoying. My M. skinneriana looks like it took ~10 degrees in stride this year. The buds and foliage all look good so far. (At least Michelia and Magnolia both start with 'M', so if unsure you can just abbreviate and you're right, either way.) |
Here is a link that might be useful: Magnolia taxonomy
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| Thanks for the information on the reclassification. I ran into the same thing with the
Farfugium japonicum 'Aureamaculata'
which used to be Ligularia tussilaginea |
RE: Michelia figo -- do you grow it?
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| At least Chrysanthemums are back. |
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