ARBORETUM JOURNAL

100-Year-Old Magnolia Graces Mansion: Campus enjoys several varieties of magnolias

When the large shrub south of Selvester’s Café-by-the-Creek bursts into a spectacular pink cloud of tulip-like flowers, as it did on Washington’s birthday, we know winter is about over. Most of us call this plant saucer magnolia (#129 on the Campus Trees map), some say “tulip tree,” whereas horticulturists use its scientific name, M. x soulangeana. (The “x” signifies that this is a hybrid of garden origin produced by humans either accidentally or on purpose and cannot be found growing wild.) In this case, the two Chinese species, M. denudata and M. liliflora, were growing together in the Paris garden of Chevalier Bodin in 1820 when they were hybridized.

You can see a fine old specimen of M. denudata (#138) in the lawn in front of Bidwell Mansion that may well have been planted by General Bidwell. Incidentally, this species has been cultivated in China for 3,000 years and was valued as an emblem of purity and as a motif in art.

Star magnolia (M. stellata) is a delightful smaller relative that is less commonly planted in Chico but nevertheless quite striking and a good candidate for a smaller yard. Both the saucer and star magnolias like a well-drained soil and a sunny location. They will also do well in a lawn.

Another magnolia on campus is that evergreen giant, the southern magnolia (M. grandiflora, #14). A large specimen is located along the walk between Laxson and Kendall in a raised circular planter, and another is in front of Bidwell Mansion. There are a number in the Performing Arts Center courtyard also. In May, huge white flowers (eight inches wide) appear. In the fall, large woody fruits festooned with red seeds are produced that delight the squirrels and scrub jays, but create a debris problem for the home gardener. Since its home is in the swamps of Georgia and Louisiana, its roots are shallow and will lift sidewalks and curbs.

Also in the magnolia family is another large tree, the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera, #12). In its home range in the southeastern United States, it is called yellow poplar and is an important timber tree. An enormous specimen is in front of Bidwell Mansion, and two others are located in front of Kendall. In the fall, the foliage is a bright yellow. In the spring, two-inch tulip-shaped flowers appear which are greenish-yellow with orange at the base. Since it is shallow-rooted and can lift sidewalks, it is most suitable in the middle of a large lawn, but its resistance to oak root fungus, a common lethal disease on campus and in many parts of Chico, still makes it a very useful plant.

Wes Dempsey

Note: In this spring column, botanist Wes Dempsey, professor emeritus, will educate those of us who aren’t able to take advantage of the arboretum tours on some of the plants and trees in the campus arboretum.