This shrub is the only specimen that I managed to spot in the Silesian Park, specifically on the outskirts of "Rosarium".
The plant can reach up to 3 m in height, although the one I photographed seems to be slightly larger. It grows in a rather shady place, the sun reaches there only occasionally through the dense leaves of nearby trees. It is highly frost resistant. It will survive even frosts below minus 30 degrees Celsius.
It's already the end of May, but I managed to spot this shrub in three stages of flowering. Because on the plant there are undeveloped, developed and already faded flowers.
Flowering twice a year
An interesting fact is that this plant blooms twice a year. This is a rarity in Central European climates, where spring comes late and frosts occur as early as August.
The first flowering period is April-May, and ends at the end of May, when the leaves appear on the bush, which is currently the second flowering period. The second bloom takes place at the turn of July and August, but then there are fewer flowers than in spring.
Purple magnolia purple flowers reach about 5 cm in height. They part during warm spring days.
Magnolia flowers have a wonderful fragrance. Essential oils are intensively secreted during warm spring days, then the flower opens and releases them, and I had the opportunity to observe this unique phenomenon.
This plant is often grown in home gardens. In cultivation, it is quite demanding, because it needs fertile humus soil. Doesn't like too much water. The plant is watered too intensively, it dries up when overwatered.
