This is the second year in a row this small tree has knocked me out. It is an evergreen tree that at maturity is supposed to grow to 25'. I bought mine two years ago and it was about 3' high, it is now about 10'. It is in a half day of full sun in the morning and very moist and very organic soil.

It is beautiful just on its own as a nice sized evergreen tree (leaves are similar to Magnolia Grandiflora in shape but smaller and lighter in color) the The leaves are bluish green but the real great thing about this plant is the flowers which for the second year in a row have all but covered the tree. The flowers form along the entire branch (unlike magnolia that form at the end). It is in bloom right now (March/April)which is nice as not much else is out except for Daphne Odora and Camellias and Rhodos. The flower color is pure white, the scent is fantastic, fresh but not too sweet. It is my favorite along with Magnolia, Plumeria and Daphne Odora. It will waft but I don't consider it a strong wafter like Daphne Odora.

Like many Michelia it lost many leaves when I initially planted it but and made a slow recovery first season. It has lived completely unprotected in North Vancouver and my last two winters temperature minimums were -11.3C and -7.2C - NO DAMAGE AT ALL. We also have very wet winters here and many plants succumb to rot, not this one.

Piroche Plants out of Pitt Meadows BC brought them over from China. I don't recommend many plants but I will stand up for this one. I hope that any of you that do find it have the same success I have had.

Now, if only they can develop a dwarf clone that can grow in a pot, I'd be on it in a second!

Magnolias/Michelias rule.

Jim (spent all weekend sniffing the mags at the botanical garden)

Try Magnolia dianica.

Got all excited about your recommendation until I searched for it and realized it's the new name for Michelia yunnanensis -- I am, in fact, growing this one, and like it a lot, though I have yet to see flowers -- this one is supposedly very variable from seed, and I can't wait for some named cultivars with different plant/flower habits to show up.

Jim

Cloob, Michelia doltsopa is not considered hardy in my zone but if I saw one for a reasonable price in my area I would probably try it out.

I also have a Michelia cavalieri which has proven very hardy the last two years (we had a real bad winter last year); however it has yet to bloom.

I also tried two alba last year which has a scent far superior to almost anything I have every had. Alas they both perished (one outdoors as an experiment, one indoors) and I will not replace as they were very expensive.

sue

I only wish I had more room in my garden for more michelias & magnolias...

Pics from this spring:

yellowthumb, do yo have yours outside in 5a?

Morning sun with part sun in the afternoon seems to make it happy.

Piroche has had a really bad time with sudden oak death (as did Monrovia a few years back) and so a lot of their retailers have not brought in product; however they have a clean bill of health now and so hopefully time will bring back retailer trust.