Magnolia kobus Dc.

A deciduous tree. It grows 20 m tall. The tree is broadly cone shaped. The bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are narrowly oval and 15 cm long by 9 cm wide. They taper at the base and have a pointed tip. They are dark green and smooth above and paler and hairy along the veins underneath. The flowers are 10 cm across and held horizontally. They are creamy white. There are 6 petal like tepals and 3 smaller sepal-like tepals. The fruit is cylinder shaped. They form in pink to red clusters 10 cm long. Red seeds hang from this.

It is a temperate plant. It is native to Japan and South Korea. It grows in mountain forests. It suits hardiness zones 4-8. Burnie Rhodo Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

The flowers and flower buds are boiled and eaten. The leaves are eaten and used as a substitute for tea. Older leaves are powdered and sprinkled on food as a flavouring.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.