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Common Name:

General Information

Magnolia hypoleuca is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 15.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Japan.

Habitat

Forests in mountains all over Japan[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Beetles
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Best grown in a warm position in a moderately rich free soil of an open texture[]. Dislikes alkaline soils[]. Tolerates alkaline soils so long as they are deep and rich in humus[]. The branches are brittle so a sheltered position is required[]. Very tolerant of atmospheric pollution[].
Hardy to about -20°c[].
The fleshy roots are easily damaged and any transplanting is best done during a spell of mild moist weather in late spring[].
A very ornamental plant[]. The flowers are powerfully scented[].
Cultivated for its medicinal bark in Japan[].

Edible Uses

The young leaves and flower buds are boiled and eaten as a vegetable[]. Older leaves are powdered and sprinkled on food as a flavouring[]. Whole dried leaves are placed on a barbecue, filled with miso, leeks, daikon and shitake then broiled[]. The delightful aroma of the leaves permeates the miso mixture which is then served with rice[].

Medicinal

Anthelmintic, antiemetic, appetizer, deobstruent, emmenagogue, expectorant, ophthalmic, sedative, stomachic, tonic[, ]. This plant is contra-indicated for pregnant women[].

Other Uses

Wood - soft, fine grained, easily worked. Used for furniture, engraving, utensils etc[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed must be kept cold over the winter and should be sown in late winter in a cold frame[]. The seed usually germinates in the spring but it can take 18 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions when they are more than 15cm tall, though should be well mulched and given some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors.
Layering in early spring[].