20 Interesting Facts about the Anise Magnolia Tree

“The magnolia always surprises me. First, she is regal, southern, and unassuming. Then she opens up and reveals her true colors.” Let’s admit it. We find very few trees as visually appealing as magnolia trees. Their sturdy, green leaves and blossoms are an excellent addition to any garden, especially in the fall season when they change their colors into yellow, orange, and red.  If you look closely at its leaves and bark, you’ll see that it has an almost fairy-tale appearance.

Not many people know these magnificent trees are ideal for indoor growth. But this isn’t the only exciting thing about them. If you have the space for one of these trees in your home or garden, here is some helpful information about them.  Here are the 20 interesting facts about the Anime Magnolia tree:

1. Its a Symbol of Purity

Chinese culture connects the tree to purity, dignity, and beauty. Magnolia was once solely available to Chinese emperors and their families, but now anybody may cultivate it. Furthermore, Magnolia represents Yin, the feminine principle in Chinese philosophy. Moreover, the peculiar plant is also associated with wealth and good health.

2. Have an Enriching Scent

The anise magnolia takes your breath away and makes you wish you never want to leave its habitat. In essence, it has a sweet anise or licorice scent that is analogous to natural air fresheners.

“Have you ever seen a magnolia bloom, bud? It’s a tight little pod that sits on the end of its branch for a long time until one day, out of nowhere, it bursts out into this giant, lovely, fragrant flower that’s ten times bigger than the bud itself. It’s difficult to believe that such a large and lovely flower could emerge from such a tiny little bud. “However, it does.” -Joanna Gaines.

Additionally, considering magnolias are among the ancient plants, their blossoms typically lack petals and sepals in favor of tepals that resemble petals. Interestingly, the blooms do not yield nectar but entice pollinating beetles with their fragrant and saccharine secretions.

3. It has Several Meanings in Dreams

While the magnolia is not the standard in dreams, seeing one in your dream is symbolic. Magnolia represents beauty, eternity, sophistication, and grace in general. In your dream, sowing Magnolia seeds means increasing your inner strength, especially while battling. Likewise, a dream about blossoming Magnolias denotes the beginning of a love affair or a new memory.

A dream about a dried Magnolia represents great melancholy and fear for the future. Dreaming of a magnolia tree indicates that you are looking for attention or wishing for something. Furthermore, it may reflect a desire to be shielded from the stresses of life.

4. It’s a Tolerant Tree

If you water it regularly or place it in an area with good moist soil, your anise magnolia may tolerate full sun. Additionally, you should plant it in a partially shaded spot if the soil is not excessively wet. Finally, you should not worry about low temperatures as the magnolia species tolerates low temperatures to 20 degrees Fahrenheit but does not do well in hot summers.

5. The Tree is Drought Resistant

The anise magnolia requires moderate water as it grows in the first or second year. However, after the tree has established itself, it does not require more watering unless its location is too dry. Additionally, the Anise Magnolia enjoys dependably moist soil and warm summer temperatures, so they thrive with the odd downpour or deep watering.

6. Available in Different Cultivars

The anise magnolia is a widespread tree in the world and exists in different cultivars as it spreads worldwide. Additionally, the tree has birthed several trees, including;

• Magnolia x kewensis ‘Wada’s Memory.’ – is a fast-growing variety with bronze leaves in the spring that changes to green in the summer and vivid yellow in the fall. Its fragrance is likewise weaker.
• The memorial garden – has an adornation with white flowers and a symmetrical shape.
• Miss jack, which is a large and fast-growing cultivar of the anise magnolia
• The else frye
•  The Lufer
• Kochanakee
• Wb Clarke

7. Affected by Various Pests and Diseases

Like any other tree type, the anise magnolia suffers primarily from the effects of pests, such as scale. Furthermore, the most common insect scale causes tiny lumps on the undersides of leaves.

The tree leaves may turn yellow and fall off when the insects inside the protective bumps feed on plant juices. Scale is tough to eradicate. However, a spring application of horticultural oil can delay the insects’ reemergence. Other pests that affect the tree are capsid bugs, snails, coral spots, gray mold, and honey fungus.

Additionally, Magnolias are sensitive to various fungal and bacterial diseases, particularly in damp conditions. These diseases range from minor leaf spots to more severe blights that cause fast leaf reduction.

However, you should not worry about fungal infections as a spray, or systemic fungicides can treat them. Nevertheless, severe disease may necessitate a professional diagnosis. When the infection strike, ensure excellent hygiene, remove afflicted branches, rake up leaf litter, and sanitize pruning tools between cuts.

Powdery mildew is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen that causes powdery residue on foliage. The disease flourishes in humid but not rainy environments. Therefore, good air circulation can aid in illness prevention. Although treating powdery mildew may not be essential, fungicides can be beneficial in cases of severe disease.

8. Has a Longevity of Around 80 Years

An anise magnolia can live for 80 years or more if it is fortunate enough to avoid significant fungal disease or wind damage. In actuality, though, this little tree typically lives for 30 to 40 years.

9. Requires Moist and Rich Soils

The tree requires moist, slightly acidic, organically rich, and well-drained soils. However, the tree tolerates neutral, mildly alkaline soils. Additionally, the tree can grow in clay, sandy, or loamy soils but may not perform well in poorly drained or wet soils. In some instances where fertilizer is needed, you should do it in early spring or late winter, with the second admission in late summer.

10. They’re Native to Japan

The anise magnolia tree is native to Japan, on Honshu Island and the slopes of Mt. Hakkoda. However, this beautiful tree has extended in the United States from North Carolina to Florida and westward to Texas. Its natural habitat is limestone areas, but it grows in the Eastern Himalayas and Bhutan. Consequently, It has also been introduced to New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania.

Additionally, the anise magnolia can grow almost everywhere in the United States due to its resistant qualities and widespread tolerance. The tree, however, does best in hardy zones 6 to 9.

11. Has a Moderate Growth Rate

The Anise Magnolia tree is a pretty addition to any garden, but it’s also very unusual. Additionally,  the tree has a moderate growth rate of approximately 1-2 feet per year. However, the pace slows down after around 5-6 years.  The plant can achieve a height of 30-50 feet and a spread of 20-30 feet. Additionally, the tree grows upright and narrowly when young and takes a pyramid shape as it ages.

12. Produces Various Stems

There are multiple stems on the anise magnolia tree. However, you can form it into a tree by eliminating all but one main branch to serve as a trunk.  Because elder magnolias do not respond well to heavy trimming, you should trim the tree when young. In addition, massive pruning might bring fungal diseases or insects. If you notice dead or unhealthy branches, you should remove them. However, pruning in rainy weather might encourage fungi to infiltrate the wounds, so do it in dry weather.

13. Was Introduced by Charles Spragus

The seeds of this plant were introduced into the UK in 1892 by Charles Spragus Sargent and James Herbert Veitch.

As a result, the binomial name Magnolia originated after a 17th-century French botanist named Pierre Magnol. Salicifolis derived from Salix, the Latin term for Willow tree, and folium, ‘leaf,’ about the Willow-like leaves.

14. Landscapers Commonly use Magnolias as Ornamental Trees

The spreading tepals, which often have a pink tinge at their base, contribute to the bloom’s beauty. The blossoms, which have a lemon or anise aroma, appear on naked branches before the leaves unfold. When scratched, both the leaves and the smooth gray bark are aromatic.

The leaf is coppery-red, has whitened undersides, and turns a lovely golden-yellow in fall before dropping to the ground. Due to their characteristics, the willow-like oval-leaved trees are an excellent choice for landscapes that require large trees. In addition, the tree provides a showy display of flowers throughout the year.

15. Have  1/4 Inch Long Seeds

Seeds of this variety of magnolia are 1/4 inch long, cone-shaped, and form clusters on stalks called cones, which resemble small pine. The anise magnolia is also known for its unique seed pods, which are long and slender, and contain about 10-12 seeds each.

16. Anise Magnolia Trees Blossom Between April and May

Anise magnolia trees blossom between April and May with greenish-yellow flowers four inches across. The fragrant flowers can be found in the fall when hummingbirds pollinate them.  It’s believed that these seeds were a spice in ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece, but cultivation occurred in Asia. Anise seeds also flavor liqueurs to date. Additionally, its seeds are poisonous to humans, but animals love them. They will eat the fruit and disperse the seeds in their droppings.

17. It is Deciduous

What does deciduous mean? Deciduous means “the dropping of a no longer needed or functional element” and “falling away when its purpose is complete.” These trees may also be evergreen as they always retain their color all year round. In most plants, the shedding leaves are the product of natural processes, which shed their foliage and appear green year-round because not all of their leaves shed ultimately.

18. They have fruits

Magnolia tree fruit can range in length from 1 to 8 inches. Frequently, you may misidentify the fruit as pinecones early in the season due to their size and woody appearance. However, their woody segments crack open as the season progresses, revealing seeds wrapped in a red aril.

19. Bark Fissure Affects The Tree

Magnolias’ bark is relatively thin, and string trimmers or lawnmowers cause damage. A shield around the tree’s base can protect it from mechanical damage and gnawing from rabbits and other browsing critters. It’s crucial for young trees.

It is natural for an elder magnolia to develop bark fissures as it ages. The tree will generally mend on its own, but keep an eye out for woodpeckers destroying the exposed wood. Maintain a close lookout for decaying signals as well.

If the bark begins to delaminate and fall off, this is a more significant indication that may suggest a fungal condition. As a result, most specialists now advise against spraying exposed sections with any protective covering; instead, let the tree try to repair itself.

20.  Has Won an Award

Magnolia salicifolia obtained the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.

How do You Plant a Magnolia Tree?

When planting a magnolia tree, take note of the following steps.

• Establish a hole 1.5 to 2 times the width of the magnolia ball or container but somewhat less deep than the root ball. When you put the magnolia in the hole, its root ball should be higher than the surrounding ground. If you’re transplanting in clay soil, you can raise the height to reveal up to a fourth of the root ball.
• Remove the top layer of dirt from the root ball or container with care to reveal the whole root. If there are any burlap coverings, remove these as well.
• Fill your hole with the dug-out soil and compress it with your foot to eliminate unwanted air pockets. You can also fill the water with dirt and let it drain before adding more soil.
• Cover the root system of the freshly planted magnolia tree with a light layer of mulch.
• Water your magnolia three times a week if you live in a warm region and twice a week in a cold climate, beginning on the day you plant it.
• Measure the trunk diameter of your magnolia tree and add 2-3 gallons for every inch.

Are Magnolia Tree Roots Deep or Shallow?

Their root systems can extend up to 40 feet. The magnolia root system is enormous, although it does not grow very deep into the earth. Instead, the roots spread horizontally instead of vertically and remain near the soil surface. Because of this,  structural proximity may cause root system damage.

It’s difficult to say how far away from your house you should put a magnolia tree. However, you should measure roughly 50 feet from your home to avoid complications as the tree grows.