Banana Magnolia is a dense, evergreen shrub native to China that blooms with fragrant, creamy pale yellow flowers from April through June in USDA zones 8-10. Growing 6-10 feet tall and equally wide, it earns its common name from the subtle banana-like fragrance its delicate cup-shaped flowers release into spring and early summer air. The glossy, dark green leaves remain attractive year-round, making this a refined choice for gardeners seeking both seasonal drama and persistent structure. Hardy in mild climates and surprisingly low-maintenance, it adapts well to part shade, though it tolerates full sun when sited carefully away from intense afternoon exposure.
Partial Sun
Moderate
8-10
120in H x 120in W
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Moderate
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The creamy pale yellow flowers with thin red margins bloom reliably from spring into early summer, releasing a distinctive banana-like fragrance that makes this shrub genuinely special. Its dense, rounded growth habit and glossy evergreen foliage provide year-round garden structure without demanding much attention. Unlike many magnolias, banana magnolia handles substantial shade gracefully and remains a garden presence even when not in bloom, thanks to its attractive dark green leaves that can reach 3-5 inches long.
Banana Magnolia serves as an excellent hedge plant, creating a dense screen of evergreen foliage accented by fragrant spring blooms. Its compact, rounded form and persistent leaves make it valuable in foundation plantings and mixed shrub borders where year-round presence matters as much as seasonal interest.
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“Magnolia figo hails from China, where it has been cultivated for centuries as an ornamental shrub valued for its fragrant spring flowers and evergreen character. The plant carries deep roots in Asian horticulture before making its way into Western gardens, where it became treasured by gardeners in mild climates seeking the refined elegance of magnolias without the deciduous dormancy of many temperate cousins.”