Magnolia × foggii Figlar

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Credits

Julian Sutton (2022)

Recommended citation
Sutton, J. (2022), 'Magnolia × foggii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/magnolia/magnolia-x-foggii/). Accessed 2024-09-10.

Genus

Magnolia
M. figo × M. doltsopa

Synonyms

Michelia × foggii Savage nom. nud.

Infraspecifics

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

hybrid: Plant originating from the cross-fertilisation of genetically distinct individuals (e.g. two species or two subspecies).

References

Credits

Julian Sutton (2022)

Recommended citation
Sutton, J. (2022), 'Magnolia × foggii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/magnolia/magnolia-x-foggii/). Accessed 2024-09-10.

Magnolia × foggii, offspring of crosses between two well-known species, was a precursor to the many hybrid evergreen magnolias now appearing. This is 'Allspice' at Tregrehan. Image J. Grimshaw.

Tree to 20 m. Leaves thin and leathery, 10–18 × 4–6 cm, elliptic, upper surface glossy green and glabrous, lower surface pale green with sparse rufous pubescence. Flowers on axillary shoots, fragrant, white to cream or with pink edges, 10–13 cm diameter; stamens yellow. (Figlar 2000).

USDA Hardiness Zone 7b-9

RHS Hardiness Rating H4

This artificial hybrid is the result of a cross between Magnolia figo and M. doltsopa first made in 1972 by John M. Fogg, a magnolia enthusiast and one-time Director of the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia; all hybrids involving only these two parents are covered by the name. Flowering from a young age (Figlar 2005) it combines the good qualities of its parents to make erect, vigorous handsome shrubs up to over 10 m tall in some clones, with dense dark foliage, widely used for landscaping purposes in the southern United States, and even recommended for hedging (Virtual Plant Tags 2008). A number of clones have been selected. Some (e.g. ‘Picotee’) are less hardy than others listed here (K. Hughes, pers. comm. 2008).

Along with M. laevifolia, M. × foggii has been used in Mark Jury’s breeding program for commercial michelia hybrids; these are already eclipsing M. × foggii as plants for general garden use.

'Allspice'

Large, pure white flowers with strong fragrance. Raised by Phil Savage, Detroit, before 1991.

Magnolia × foggii 'Allspice' has a strong fragrance (la Beaujoire, Nantes, 2nd May 2011). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia × foggii 'Allspice' (Cistus Nursery, Oregon, March 2010). Image John Grimshaw.

'Bubbles'

Small pyramidal tree; flowers white with pale pink margins, slightly fragrant. Raised before 2000 by Os Blumhardt, New Zealand, and quite widely grown in Australasia; its hardiness has scarcely been tested in Europe or North America.

'Jack Fogg'

Narrowly upright large shrub or small tree. Tepals white, edged purple-pink. Suffers little damage even at –18 °C in the southeastern United States (Hogan 2008). A specimen planted in Dorset, UK by John Gallagher before 1992, had reached 11–12 m by 2007 and was still growing well, flowering abundantly each year and never damaged by frost (J. Gallagher, pers. comm. 2007). Raised by Phil Savage, Detroit, before 1991.

Magnolia × foggii 'Jack Fogg' (3rd May 2020). Image Caerhays Estate.

Buds of Magnolia × foggii 'Jack Fogg' (14th April 2020). Image Caerhays Estate.

Magnolia × foggii 'Jack Fogg' (3rd May 2020). Image Caerhays Estate.

'Mixed up Miss'

Small pyramidal tree; flowers creamy white edged and tipped purplish. Raised before 1996 by Os Blumhardt, New Zealand; again, hardiness scarcely tested outside Australasia.

Magnolia × foggii 'Mixed up Miss' (Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, UK; 1 June 2019). Image Christophe Crock.

Magnolia × foggii 'Mixed up Miss': the flowers are beautiful, if not particularly abundant (Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, UK; 10 June 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Magnolia × foggii 'Mixed up Miss' making a perfectly rounded small tree at Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, UK (10 June 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

Magnolia × foggii 'Mixed up Miss' (New Zealand, 3rd September 2015). Image Abbie Jury.

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