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Magnolia sprengeri diva

There are so many magnolias to choose from, but Magnolia sprengeri diva is a heart-stopper at the moment. For gardens in the east of England, where Magnolia campbellii is sadly out of reach, this is the next best thing: a smaller tree with slightly smaller flowers but almost the same panache.

Ernest Wilson found it in China in Edwardian times. The history of a cultivar like this is rarely simple, and new forms still turn up, some better than others, with considerable variation in flower colour. 'Westonbirt' is a recent excellent example. Leaves are almost as important as flowers in these trees; their autumn colour is a serene pale tan which they hold for weeks.

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