Magnolia kobus | Multi-stem

Below, we focus on Magnolia kobus. This tree/shrub has an upright growth habit, making it ideal for green belts or parks. When grown as a shrub, this cultivar reaches a height of 6 to 8 meters and forms a beautiful pyramidal shape that becomes more broadly oval as it matures.

Its greatest ornamental value likely lies in its fresh green, oval-shaped leaves combined with a beautifully compact crown. This cultivar produces a lovely inflorescence—especially when mature—with white, star-shaped flowers consisting of six petals and three sepals. Flowering begins even before the leaves emerge, in March–April, making it an early bloomer. The blooms are noticeably less striking and last for a shorter period than those of many other Magnolia cultivars. Over the course of summer and into fall, elongated dark red fruits appear on the trees. As they ripen, the pinkish-red seeds are released.

We grow this cultivar in both shrub and tree forms at our nursery. Magnolia kobus is native to Japan and Korea; its name is derived from the Japanese city of Kobe. In France, the cultivar is therefore sometimes called Magnolia de Kobé. I found some interesting facts about this cultivar on this Japanese website: https://www.tokyonaturalist.com/post/magnolia-kobus