Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’

In mid-spring, Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ becomes adorned with an abundance of deep lilac buds that ultimately unfold into soft lilac-pink flowers with white interiors. These flowers can reach up to 12cm in width and contain as many as 12 tepals. Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ starts blooming at a young age and is a fantastic option for a street tree. Magnolia x loebneri is deciduous, not native to New Zealand, and a hybrid between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata that was first produced before 1914 by Max Löbner in Pillnitz, Dresden, Germany. Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ was raised by James Comber, the head gardener at the Nymans garden in West Sussex, England, and named after Leonard Messel, the then owner of the Nymans estate. Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ was registered in 1955.