Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia)

Magnolia figo, Michelia figo, Magnolia fuscata, Banana Magnolia, Banana Shrub, Port Wine Magnolia

Botanical names: Magnolia figo, Michelia figo, Magnolia fuscata

Common names: Banana Magnolia, Banana Shrub, Port Wine Magnolia

Origin: China

A slow growing, compact shrub. It bears small, shiny deep green leaves and tiny spring-blooming heavily scented cream flowers streaked with purple. Pruning produces abundant new flowering growth. Prefers neutral to acid, humus-rich, well-drained soil; they resent being transplanted. The banana shrub is so called because of the distinctive, sweet banana scent of its flowers. These are formed within interesting fuzzy brown bracts that form a 1 in (2.5 cm) cigar-shaped bud, from which small off-white flowers burst forth from late spring through summer. The blossoms are about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter with each of six waxy petals delicately outlined in dark red.

See Article about Tropical Magnolias.