Kobus Magnolia

Magnolia kobus (Magnoliaceae) is a deciduous tree or large shrub native to Japan. It grows to 30 to 40 feet tall and 23 feet wide, forming a broadly pyramidal crown. White flowers with a faint purple base (about 13 cm across, 6 to 9 tepals) open on bare branches in early spring before the foliage emerges, creating a striking display against the winter sky.

Kobus magnolia tolerates a range of soil types in full sun to part shade with moderate moisture. It is slow to reach flowering maturity, sometimes taking 10 to 15 years from seed. It blooms on old wood, so pruning should follow flowering. Documented diseases include bacterial blight, leaf spot, powdery mildew, root and cutting rots, and verticillium wilt. Hardy in Zones 5a to 8b.