Magnolia grandiflora 'Victoria'
Common name: Southern magnolia, evergreen magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora 'Victoria', a southern magnolia cultivar, is a medium-sized tree that grows best in areas with cool summers and mild winters. The cultivar originated in Victoria, British Columbia in 1930.
M. grandiflora 'Victoria' is a cultivar known for being cold-hardy and is perfect for the Pacific Northwest. It has beautiful, upward-facing, creamy white flowers with a lemony scent. The flowers can be up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in diameter. The fruit, which form in early to late fall, are showy red pods and enjoyed by squirrels. Its shiny, leathery, dark-green leaves are about 20 centimetres (8inches) long, and have a rusty red indumentum.
M. grandiflora 'Victoria' thrives in soil that is slightly acidic, organically rich, and well drained. Because magnolias have fleshy roots that damage easily, care must be taken when digging in the root zone.
There are three specimens of Magnolia grandiflora 'Victoria' at VanDusen. The photos were taken of the ones in Bed 88A and Bed 25 during the winter and early spring of 2024.
Text and photos by Kumi Sutcliffe, except for flower photo by Syno, via Wikimedia