I am myself and what is around me, and if I do not save it, it shall not save me. A diverse family of trees, the lovely magnolias share some common traits that have made them beloved throughout much of the country. They are generally medium-sized or smaller trees, distinguished by unusual flower and wood characteristics that suggest they are the oldest of all flowering plant families. Indeed, many experts believe that only the conifers extend further back into antiquity.
Magnolias are distinctive in many other ways as well.
They are known for their large, showy flowers, which in many species are fragrant, and which grow singly at the tips of branches. Magnolia wood is usually soft and light in color and is used in making crates, boxes, and light furniture. The tree is of perhaps greatest value as a prized ornamental that also attracts a wide range of wildlife. The magnolia genus embraces both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, with most species having thin, smooth bark and large leaves and flowers. But whatever the variety, magnolias have long done credit to their namesake, Pierre Magnol, who was director of the botanical garden at Montpellier, France.