Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Subgenus: Yulania
Section: Yulania
Subsection: Yulania
Species: M. campbellii
Binomial name: Magnolia campbellii
Common names: Campbell's magnolia
Magnolia campbellii is a large deciduous tree of the Magnolia species that grows in sheltered valleys of the temperate rain forests of E. Asia – Himalayas to S.W. China, at altitudes of between 2500 - 3000 metres. It was named after the Scottish botanist Dr Archibald Campbell.
Magnolia campbellii is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree that in its natural environment can grow to 30 m but it rarely exceeds 18 m in cultivation. The trunk has smooth grey bark.
Smooth oval leaves are up to 10-23 cm (rarely to 33 cm) long and 4.5-10 cm (rarely to 14 cm) broad and they have silky hairs on the underside when young.
Campbell's magnolia flowers in late winter or early spring before the leaves of the tree emerge. Each scented flower can be as large as 13-20 cm across, with 12-15 large petals. Its inner petals tend to stay upright, which may help protect the delicate stamens (male parts of the flower) and ovary within from rain, snow, and other harsh environmental conditions common during their very early flowering time period. The flowers vary in colour from white through pink to crimson on the outside with paler shades inside.
The fruit is a cylindrical spike 15-20 cm long, with red seeds.
