Magnolia kobus

Appearance: deciduous tree, 8-10 m tall, 4-6 m wide with a narrowly pyramidal crown, later rounded-globose, with thin bare shoots.

Flowers: creamy-white, pleasantly scented, blooms in early spring before the leaves open.

Fruits: cylindrical, red aggregate fruits.

Leaves: broadly obovate, emerge early, intensely green above, paler beneath.

Requirements: a sunny position, south-facing, protected from wind, frost-hardy form.

Soils: loamy, humus-rich soils, relatively dry or fresh, slightly acidic.

Zone: 6a