Look at how lovingly they wrapped the trunks with rope, though. It is nice to see an old standby like the Grandiflora (often loathed for its hard-to-rake leathery leaves) appreciated far from home.
I wonder what those standardized magnolias will look like in a few years? Somehow I don't see them taking well to it.

The Grandiflora have naturalized in southern China since about 1900. They fit in well with many similar local Magnolia and Michelia species.

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