Magnificent Magnolias

There are over 175 varieties of Magnolias known worldwide. The Chinese Magnolia officinalis is used as an herbal treatment for depression, anxiety and as a mild sedative. It is also said to have  anti-inflammatory properties. The three most common species in New Jersey are the saucer, star and southern magnolia. Greenwood Gardens is home to all three, along with other beautiful magnolia hybrids.

The flamboyant, deciduous, saucer magnolia,
Magnolia x soulangeana grows at the Carriage House and by the Summerhouse.

Two magnificent, deciduous, star magnolias, Magnolia stellata, have flourished for many decades between the Teahouse and Cascade.

The evergreen southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, is the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi. One can be found in the West Woods and its flowers are very grand indeed—spreading eight to twelve inches wide.

Named after the French botanist, Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), magnolias were among the first plants on earth to produce flowers pollinated by insects and are thought to have predated bees. Two Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ (above) grow on the East Terrace.

Magnolia ‘Judy Zuk’ (featured in the banner) is a hybrid, deciduous magnolia honoring Judy Zuk, a
former President of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It can be found in the Forecourt to the Main House. It is sometimes referred to as Magnolia x brooklynensis.

Magnolia x wieseneri, sometimes called Watson’s magnolia, is a deciduous magnolia hybrid that
originated in Japan in the 1800s. A young specimen grows along the West Walk. It blooms from May to June with fragrant, six to eight inch ivory flowers and showy rose-crimson stamens.

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Scott Lamm is an internationally certified arborist who has been caring for trees in the Millburn-Short Hills community for 45 years. His passion for trees began as a young boy when he determined to spend his life working to preserve trees as a legacy for the future. Scott has helped save and care for Greenwood’s magnificent trees for many years. Working closely with Rutgers University, he shares  his knowledge and skills as a consultant with garden clubs, arboreta, and shade tree advisory boards. “It is my life-long dream and ambition,” writes Scott, “to leave this world with more trees than when I began my career.”