Magnolia Fuscata - Banana Shrub

Squash Blossom · Post by **Squash Blossom** » Apr 26, 2005 11:07 pm

You guys were talking about your fragrant lilacs which we can't grow. Are you familiar with Magnolia Fuscata, the highly fragrant banana shrub? I have one plant that is 12-14 ft. tall, probably 8 ft. wide, and it has been covered in buds and blooms for weeks. It, to me, is an old-timey fragrance that reminds me of my childhood. There was a plant outside my bedroom window as a child and I've always loved it.

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Apr 26, 2005 11:19 pm

That's really pretty! No, I have never heard of that....Thanks for sharing!!

Squash Blossom · Post by **Squash Blossom** » Apr 26, 2005 11:31 pm

The fragrance is very similar to bananas and late in the afternoon you can smell it for quite a distance. The little blooms only live briefly and have practically no stems. People pick them and float them in a shallow saucer inside.

I wish we had smell-a-vision...I'd love to smell the fragrance of lilacs and I'd love everyone to smell this Southern favorite.

Ann

Relayer56 · Post by **Relayer56** » Apr 27, 2005 4:51 pm

Funny you should mention that. My girlfriend (now wife of 26 years) had one outside her window when we were dating. What time that was! That girl... cool spring nights... the scent of the banana bush floating on the air while we sat in the porch swing and I was doing my best courting! Ah, the memories..

I hadn't seen another banana bush until just last week i ran into one at the nursery around the corner from my house. It was in bloom, and when I smelled it I immediately felt such a reaction! Ah, the memories...

Ken

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Apr 28, 2005 9:29 am

Okay Ken, ya married the gal! Did ya buy the plant?

Relayer56 · Post by **Relayer56** » Apr 28, 2005 10:20 am

karma_Happy_Toes wrote:Okay Ken, ya married the gal! Did ya buy the plant?

uh... no...

But I probably will, eventually. Just take me a couple of visits to make such a weighty decision.

PS: It took me 4 years to get the gal!

Christie-SW-MO · Post by **Christie-SW-MO** » Apr 29, 2005 8:29 am

You could make this very romantic ya know Ken. Just write a note telling her why you bought it. - And Mother's Day is coming up.

Squash Blossom · Post by **Squash Blossom** » Apr 29, 2005 9:51 am

You wouldn't think a potted shrub would ever be considered a romantic gift but Magnolia Fuscata would...in a heartbeat!! I'll bet your wife would be thrilled to death to recapture that memory in such a special way.

The picture I posted makes the bloom look big but they're actually about the size of half a peanut.

My only regret was not planting my "tree" closer to the patio, but then again I didn't have the patio when I planted the small shrub.

Of all the plants I've ever grown I think Magnolia Fuscata is my alltime favorite and it has never required one iota of special care or been attacked by anything.

Ann

Relayer56 · Post by **Relayer56** » Apr 29, 2005 11:44 am

Well, I suppose I could return that new vacuum cleaner I already got her for Mother's Day....

On the other hand, that's a dang nice vacuum cleaner!

Maybe the Fuscata would be even better.

I think I'll do it!

Thanks for the hint, y'all.

treelover3 · Post by **treelover3** » Apr 29, 2005 4:01 pm

I think that this shrub is also called Michelia figo.
Mike

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Apr 29, 2005 4:26 pm

Ken a nice bow on that potted Magnolia Fuscata would really be a great gift compared to a vac. But again I want a new mower after 17 years, yep that was a Mother's Day gift! The best gift someone could give me!

Relayer56 · Post by **Relayer56** » Apr 29, 2005 5:51 pm

I really was just kidding about the vac, but, oddly enough, one of my earlier gifts to my missus on Mother's Day was a Snapper lawn mower. I won't make that kinda of mistake, again.

I found out today, though, that the Banana Shrub at the local nursery is actually Michelia skinneriana (Magnoliaceae family). Must be fairly closley related to Squash Blosssom's Fuscata, though.

Squash Blossom, do you know if these two are pretty similar?

These shrubs were set back out of the way, a bit, and many of the nursery customers were trying to track down the scent.

Squash Blossom · Post by **Squash Blossom** » Apr 29, 2005 9:21 pm

I know a woman who actually divorced her husband after he gave her a pair of turquois tennis shoes from Sears for a wedding anniversary present...she said it was the last straw!! My oldest pug, Rosebud, was a surprise 27th wedding anniversary present back in 1993.

I really had never seen or heard Michelia skinneriana, but when I Googled Magnolia Fuscata, the first listing, a nursery called Almost Eden, had it listed as Michelia figo/Banana Magnolia, I believe. My guess is it's the same plant, or very nearly the same.

http://almostedenplants.com/mall/Bananamagnolia.asp

Squash Blossom · Post by **Squash Blossom** » Apr 30, 2005 12:48 pm

I "Googled" Michelia skinneriana this morning and it's often listed as the "new and improved" Magnolia fuscata/Banana Shrub.

Off topic...but how did we live without Google?

I forgot to add that the Hardiness Zones were only 7-9. I'm in Zone 8 and if our winters get anymore mild, we'll be down to only three seasons!

Ann