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Our
Magnolia macrophylla is in full flower, with its large citrus-scented flowers striking in the evening light. A rare plant, discovered by botanical explorer Andre Michaux, native to only a few places in the Carolinas, it's an adaptable garden plant for us. Deciduous, its winter buds and branching patterns make an architectural statement.
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The largest leaves of any North American tree bring comments from the schoolchildren -- they're quite impressive on the large specimens that we have. People are always surprised that we have native magnolias here that are deciduous in addition to Southern Magnolia (
M. grandiflora), which is a world traveler, being planted in practically every continent except Antarctica.