What are the characteristics of magnolia flowers?
This article provides a core introduction to the characteristics of magnolia flowers and a brief introduction to the green plant flower planting content of magnolia features, let's take a look with the editor!
As its name suggests, magnolia flowers are as white as jade and their fragrance is similar to orchids. They have pure white colors, large flowers, thick petals, and a strong fragrance. Due to their color, fragrance, and the characteristic of blooming in early spring, people have given them aliases such as white magnolia,木兰 (mùlán), jade orchid, jade tree, spring welcoming flower, spring expecting flower, spring responding flower, jade hall spring, and Xinyi.
Magnolia is a famous ornamental tree native to China, with a cultivation history of nearly 2500 years. It is an important tree for spring appreciation in northern China. Magnolias are mainly distributed in central China (especially in Henan Province, which is known as the hometown of magnolias) and the southwestern region. They are loved by people all over the world for their beautiful tree shape and elegant flowers. They have been introduced and cultivated globally and can now be found on all five continents, becoming one of the representatives of Chinese flowers going abroad.
Magnolia is a deciduous tree of the magnolia family, with a tall tree body, straight and sturdy lower part, and branches that gather at the top. The flower branches are sparse and scattered, like bell-shaped magnolia flower buds standing on the upper branches. When the snow-white flowers bloom alone with the spring breeze, the nine petals of the magnolia flower extend outward one by one, presenting an elegant posture and vibrant appearance, as if celestial maidens are scattering flowers, or like "heavenly silk robes trying feathers," creating a unique landscape of a tree covered with white flowers.
Magnolia is one of the few plants that bloom before sprouting leaves. When magnolia flowers bloom, they do not need green leaves to set off their beauty, and can independently display a tree full of enchanting beauty, like fluttering silk gowns or smoke and clouds spreading. Where the spring breeze passes, Xinyi blooms and steals the limelight from peaches and plums, becoming the most touching scenery in early spring. Therefore, during the flowering season, not only are there striking white or smoke-purple flowers everywhere, but the faint fragrance is refreshing, making appreciating magnolia flowers one of the most pleasant things in early spring.
The most distinctive feature of magnolia flowers is their pure color, which, besides white, also includes purple-red and yellow, but white and purple-red are the most common. Regardless of the color, magnolia flowers bloom with great enthusiasm, either like a tree full of white clouds or a tree full of smoke and clouds, making people feel as if they are new and can't help but admire them carefully. No wonder the Ming Dynasty poet Mu Shi praised magnolia flowers:
Like pieces of silk in the new evening makeup,
Graceful and upright like jade in the spring palace.
Already faintly dyed with red clouds,
Therefore, using morning dew as fragrant dust.
In order to change the pure color situation of magnolia flowers, people have cultivated multicolored magnolia flowers through hybridization. Among them, the most distinctive is "Erjiao magnolia," with one flower having a white base and the base of the flower having a purple-red晕 (huàn). It is as if a beauty has applied blusher to her fair face, naturally endearing; it is also like the two beautiful women, Daqiao and Xiaoqiao, standing together in white and red, giving magnolia another charm.
Although magnolia flowers are beautiful, they have one major drawback: their flowering period is too short. Generally, from the time the flower bud opens to the falling of petals, it is about ten days, and no more than half a month at the longest. If the north encounters a "spring cold snap," the flowering period may be even shorter. I think, if people can change the color of magnolia flowers through hybridization, why not use the same method to extend the flowering period, so that the beautiful blooming of magnolia flowers can last longer?
The origin of magnolia flowers has a beautiful legend. It is said that in ancient times, there were three sisters living in a deep mountain. The eldest was called Hong magnolia, the second was called Bai magnolia, and the third was called Huang magnolia. One day, when they went downhill to play, they found that the village below was desolate. The three sisters were surprised and asked the villagers what had happened. They learned that during the time of Qin Shi Huang, people killed the lobster princess in order to move mountains and fill the sea, angering the Dragon King. The Dragon King locked the salt warehouse and did not allow the locals to eat salt, causing many people to die. The three sisters felt sympathy for them and decided to help them get salt. After being repeatedly refused by the Dragon King, the three sisters had to start with the crab general guarding the salt warehouse, using their brewed flower fragrance to intoxicate the crab general, and then managed to break through the salt warehouse, allowing all the salt to seep into the sea. The villagers were saved, but the three sisters were turned into flowering trees by the Dragon King. Later, the locals named the trees "magnolia" in memory of the three sisters, and the fragrance they brewed became the fragrance of magnolia flowers. Because of this story, magnolia flowers have come to symbolize gratitude.
Magnolia has a very strong survival ability. As long as it is warm, sunny, moist, and well-drained, magnolia can grow well. Magnolias also have strong cold resistance and can safely overwinter at -20°C, so magnolias can be widely planted in northern China. The planting method of magnolia is very simple, usually planted by sowing or layering. Planting should be done about ten days before the spring buds sprout or before the leaves expand after flowering. Usually, it takes about five years for magnolia to grow into a mature shape and bloom after successful planting.
Since magnolia has the qualities of both jade and orchid, its flower language is "pure as ice and jade," symbolizing purity, fragrance, and innocence. Of course, the magnolia, with its noble character, is also used as a symbol of pure emotions, as the saying goes:
The affectionate nature never changes year after year,
The eternal fragrance is given to you.
Magnolia can not only be appreciated for its flowers but can also be made into flower delicacies for consumption. In the north, before the spring rain falls, people will pick magnolia branches to make flower delicacies. The thick, fleshy petals of magnolia are cleaned, coated with egg liquid, covered with batter, fried in warm oil until crisp, and then taken out. The texture is crisp and tender, which ancient people called "biting spring." After biting, spring will be securely locked at home, heralding the prosperity and grandeur of the new year. Therefore, magnolia embodies people's longing for spring and their beautiful expectations for the future.
Due to its own fragrance, dried magnolia flowers can also be used for tea. Magnolia flowers can also be used to extract and blend essences or make ointments, and the seeds can be pressed for oil for industrial use. In addition, magnolia has high medicinal value and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The taste and nature of magnolia flowers are spicy and warm, with the功效 (efficacy) of dispelling wind, warming and unblocking the nose, and clearing the lungs. It can be used to treat headaches, blood stasis-type dysmenorrhea, nasal congestion, acute and chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.
Chinese people have a special fondness for magnolia flowers. Not only are they commonly planted in courtyards, parks, and streets, but during early spring, magnolias bloom all over China. People "love the fragrance of the snowy branches in spring" and visitors come in an endless stream, becoming a major beauty of the new year. There is also a plethora of literary and artistic works on magnolia, with people expressing the elegant posture of magnolia in various artistic ways. Shanghai people, in particular, regard magnolia as a treasure among flowers. Not only are magnolias widely planted in the city, but magnolia is also designated as the city flower of Shanghai, and the Shanghai TV Festival has established the White Magnolia Award, which shows the love Shanghai people have for magnolia flowers. In addition to Shanghai, cities such as Lianyungang, Chaozhou, and Dongguan have also made magnolia their city flower, and universities such as Renmin University of China have made magnolia their school flower. Magnolia has thus won the love and admiration of people, establishing its noble status among flowers.
The above is the introduction to the characteristics of magnolia flowers and a brief introduction to the features of magnolia flowers, hoping to bring a little help to your life!