About Magnolia figo (Lour.) DC.
Magnolia figo (Lour.) DC. is a species of flowering plant in the Magnoliaceae family. This evergreen tree has the common names banana shrub and port wine magnolia. It reaches a height of 3 to 4 metres, or 10 to 13 feet. It was first described as Liriodendron figo by Portuguese missionary and naturalist João de Loureiro, then reclassified as Michelia figo by German botanist Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel. In 2006, a cladistic analysis found that all species in the genus Michelia actually belong within the genus Magnolia, so its accepted name is now Magnolia figo.
Magnolia figo is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant for its fragrant flowers. Its flowers are cream-white, and sometimes yellow, purple rounded, or light-purple, with a strong scent caused by isoamyl alcohol. It is also commonly grown as a houseplant. Both flower buds and new leaves are covered in hairs, giving them a velvet-like texture. Its leaves are leathery, dark glossy-green, and grow up to 10 cm long. In Shanghai, China, this plant is used to form tall evergreen hedges.
It grows very slowly, and matures into a large, compact evergreen tree. It grows well in both acid and alkaline soil, but is susceptible to black soot. This species is native to China.
