Identifying Lily Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora)

Take great care when identifying wild plants and fungi, this blog is not a resource to be taken by itself and further resources will be linked. Consult other sources and double check. While foraging is an extremely rewarding and useful skill, numerous common plants and fungi can make you sick or kill you. Be absolutely sure of what you’re eating and, when gathering, ensure you leave enough not only to ensure the survival and growth of the species but also enough for others to enjoy, from the human and more-than-human communities. Also cultivate an awareness of contamination and pollution – wastewater runoff, spraying, exhaust fumes – as this should affect your decision to harvest.

The Plant

Magnolia liliiflora is a beautiful small flowering tree belonging to the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). It is native to southwest China but has been cultivated in Japan, Europe, and North America, and can be found blooming all over New Zealand, not so much as a wild plant but as a decorative tree in gardens and parks throughout cities and suburbs alike. Lily magnolias thrive in full sun or slight shade and in rich, slightly acidic soils. The name Magnolia is a tribute to the French botanist Pierre Magnol, who invented the concept of plant families in the development of plant classification.

Description

Lily magnolia is a small deciduous tree (or large shrub) and will grow up to 4 metres high and up to 3 metres wide. Magnolia liliiflora is also known as Mulan magnolia, purple magnolia, and tulip magnolia, and is noticeably smaller than other magnolia species. The leaves are a medium green with smooth edges and a pointed tip. The trunk and older branches of the magnolia are a light brown with bumps and ridges, whereas the younger branches and offshoots are a slightly darker brown and largely smooth except for some white speckling. The shrub itself will grow in a kind of rounded form. The flowers begin as velvety, pale, brownish-green buds, developing into deep purple-pink compact pointed buds, before blossoming into lily-shaped up-standing flowers with petals that are a bright purple-pink on the outside and pale white on the inside. Once the flowers have bloomed most of the leaf buds will follow suit and open also

Ecology

Magnolia liliiflora can be found blooming from very early spring and will continue to bloom through out this season. Lily magnolia appears to be a popular choice of shrub for many gardens in New Zealand, as well as most council owned parks, though I have never come across it growing wild as it requires quite good, well-drained soil and full sun positioning. All magnolia species pollination is facilitated by beetles and are a monoecious plant.

Nutritional/Medicinal Information:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine magnolia bark and flowers were used to treat ailments such as depression, anxiety, and stress. The chemicals found in magnolia extract have been shown to kill bacteria in the mouth and so could be protective against gingivitis (gum disease), bleeding or swollen gums, and overall oral health. Some of the components of magnolia are also said to reduce menstrual cramps as they are anti-inflammatory and sooth muscle tension. These anti-inflammatory properties may also help with respiratory issues such as asthma or bronchitis.

Magnolia extracts can be quite powerful and should not be used for long periods of time or by people who are pregnant.

Possible Lookalikes

Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) is a hybrid and one of the most common magnolia species you will see in parks and gardens. This tree is taller than the lily magnolia and has paler purple-pink petals and flowers that are rounder in shape. This species is also edible.

There aren’t any reported toxic species of magnolia, so all may be edible, but there are around 210 species and so not enough research on the edibility of all varieties has been done to guarantee this. Use caution and try only confirmed edible varieties.

Interesting Facts

Magnolias are thought to be the earliest known flowering plants and fossils of this beautiful tree have been found that date back 100 million years.

The Magnoliaceae family existed before bees and so rely on beetles for their pollination. The beetles eat the large quantities of pollen that the magnolia flowers produce.

Storage & Cooking

Pick magnolia flowers when they have fully bloomed or to taste; the darker the colour pigment, the more intense the flavour. Lily magnolia petals have a gentle gingery-cardamom like flavour and are wonderful in Asian dishes and sweet deserts and drinks. You can use the petals fresh in salads, steeped for teas, or dried and ground into a cardamom-like spice. I love the petals pickled as a ginger substitute to have with sushi!

Magnolia liliiflora is delicious in teas, salads, sushi, syrups, cakes, tempura, and pickles and retain much of their vibrant colour. Enjoy my fellow foragers!

Further Reading

The Spruce

The Urban Nanna

Essential Garden Guide