If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Magnolia figo

(Lour.) DC.

Magnoliaceae


Results of DNA analysis in various studies (see, for example, R.B. Figlar & H.P. Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 87-100. 2004) have supported the concept that the various genera comprising the subfamily Magnolioideae would be more consistently treated as a single genus, Magnolia. This is the treatment followed here, though it is still not universally accepted[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Liriodendron figo Lour.

Michelia figo (Lour.) Spreng.

Michelia fuscata (Andrews.) Wall.

Michelia crassipes Y.W.Law

Michelia brevipes Y.K.Li & X.M.Wang

Michelia skinneriana Dunn

Magnolia caudata (M.X.Wu, X.H.Wu & G.Y.Li) C.B.Callaghan & Png

Michelia amoena Q.F.Zheng & M.M.Lin

Michelia caudata M.X.Wu, X.H.Wu & G.Y.Li

Michelia linyaoensis D.C.Zhang & S.B.Zhou

Liriopsis fuscata (Andrews) Spach

Magnolia annonifolia Salisb.

Magnolia fasciata Vent.

Magnolia fuscata Andrews

Magnolia heliophila P.Parm.

Magnolia meleagrioides DC.

Magnolia parviflora Blume

Magnolia parvifolia DC.

Magnolia versicolor Salisb.

Michelia fascicata (Andrews) Vent.

Michelia fuscata (Andrews) Blume

Michelia parviflora Deless.

Michelia parvifolia (DC.) B.D.Jacks.

Sampacca parviflora (Deless.) Kuntze

Common Name: Banana Shrub

Magnolia figo
Plant
Photograph by: Raffi Kojian
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Magnolia figo Magnolia figo Magnolia figo Magnolia figo Magnolia figo Magnolia figo

General Information

Magnolia figo is an evergreen shrub with dense, upright growth when young, eventually forming a rounded canopy; it grows around 3 - 5 metres tall and 2 - 5 metres wide[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a flavouring in tea, as a medicine and source of an essential oil. The plant is also commonly grown as an ornamental in many parts of tropical to warm temperate regions[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southeast China.

Habitat

Broad-leaved evergreen forests, shady slopes and along river banks[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Magnolia figo grows in the subtropical climate of southeast China. Although not very frost-hardy, plants are known to have survived in sheltered positions outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
], tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[
260
Title
Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2
Publication
 
Author
Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
Publisher
Pan Books, London.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-330-37376-5
Description
Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.
].
Succeeds in a humus-rich well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in direct light or partial shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Requires a neutral to acid soil according to other reports[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
,
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
,
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
The flowers have a smell like ripening cantaloupes or bananas. This smell can be very pleasant but can become overwhelming when these shrubs are massed together[
309
Title
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
Publisher
University of Florida
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].. This is one of the most fragrant of all shrubs with a scent strongly resembling the sweet 'pear drops'[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used for scenting tea[
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is used medicinalluy[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Other Uses

The banana-scented flowers are used to scent hair oil[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed as soon as it is ripe[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions when large enough.
Cuttings of greenwood[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Magnolia+figo>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.