Magnolia bloomed for the first time in the South Siberian Botanical Garden of Altai State University

Specialists from the South Siberian Botanical Garden of the flagshipc university in Altai Krai argue that magnolia can be found  in tropical and subtropical zones of our planet. Its beautiful appearance can often be seen in works of art and emblems of southern countries. Representatives of this genus grow in North America and East Asia. Magnolia was introduced in the Far East of our country, where it is loved for the beauty of foliage and large flowers. In the wild, magnolia is found on Kunashir Island.

“In the 90s, the stalk of Zybold magnolia was brought to the South Siberian Botanical Garden of AltSU from the collection of the Botanical Garden Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Vladivostok). In the botanical garden of Vladivostok, this magnolia came from the DPRK. In early June of this year, this magnolia finally bloomed in the Altai State University Botanical Garden”, notes Director of the South Siberian Botanical Garden, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Alexander Shmakov.

The flowers of the Siebold magnolia are large, fragrant, white with a cream tint, have red-purple expressive stamens. In the wild, this plant grows in China, Japan and Korea. This is one of the most frost-resistant magnolias.

“Our magnolia has been introduced quite successfully, at present it is undergoing a flowering stage. In Russia, magnolia, as a symbol of the warm south, can be found in the territory of the largest Russian resort city of Sochi, where they form the basis of exotic park vegetation. Now magnolia has taken root in our city, in Siberian conditions”, summed up Alexander Shmakov.

In the history of Siberian botanical gardens, this is the first case of magnolia blossoming in the open ground, added the director of the South Siberian Botanical Garden of AltSU, noting that this is not an unfounded statement, but a documented fact.