Flower news
GardensFalling glass and ‘decapitated’ plants: the race to protect Edinburgh botanic garden’s plantsGardensHow to create a vibrant cutting gardenIn bloomColorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama DesertIn bloomColorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama Desert in wake of 'super' El NiñoGardensNew York Botanical Garden event explores how crop diversity could shape the future of foodIndiaGardening Tips: Night-Blooming Jasmine to Gardenia, 5 Flowers to Plant Early for Blissful WintersIn bloomAftershock PC x Zotac Gaming Pops First Blooming Cherry Blossom DesktopShows and festivalsGet Ready for Autumn at the Midlands Fall Plant and Flower FestivalDecorationCenturies-old Japanese art of ikebana draws those seeking calmDecorationShow Us Your Garden: Pepper plants and Wedding FlowersGardensFalling glass and ‘decapitated’ plants: the race to protect Edinburgh botanic garden’s plantsGardensHow to create a vibrant cutting gardenIn bloomColorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama DesertIn bloomColorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama Desert in wake of 'super' El NiñoGardensNew York Botanical Garden event explores how crop diversity could shape the future of foodIndiaGardening Tips: Night-Blooming Jasmine to Gardenia, 5 Flowers to Plant Early for Blissful WintersIn bloomAftershock PC x Zotac Gaming Pops First Blooming Cherry Blossom DesktopShows and festivalsGet Ready for Autumn at the Midlands Fall Plant and Flower FestivalDecorationCenturies-old Japanese art of ikebana draws those seeking calmDecorationShow Us Your Garden: Pepper plants and Wedding Flowers
Phool
Magnolia sieboldii , Oyama Magnolia, on the Camellia Path next to the golf course in Stanley Park, on May 22.

Magnolia sieboldii

A summer-blooming magnolia with white, cup-shaped flowers from East Asia

Photo: Wendy Cutler, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Magnolia sieboldii is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to China, Japan, and Korea. Its white, pendulous flowers open mainly in early summer and continue into late summer, making it a popular ornamental plant. It is recognized for its hardiness and is the national flower of North Korea.

Share on WhatsApp

  • Native to China, Japan, and Korea
  • Flowers mainly in early summer
  • Recognized as the national flower of North Korea
  • Grown successfully in cold climates like Finland
  • Has three main subspecies with different flower traits

What does Magnolia sieboldii look like?

This plant can grow as a large shrub or a small tree, reaching between 5 and 10 meters tall. Its young stems, leaves, and buds are covered in fine hairs. The leaves are oval to oblong, often 9 to 16 centimeters long. The flowers hang down, are cup-shaped, and measure 7 to 10 centimeters across. Each flower has 6 to 12 pure white tepals, with greenish carpels and either reddish-purple or greenish-white stamens.

Where does Magnolia sieboldii come from?

Magnolia sieboldii is native to the forests of China, Japan, and Korea. The species was first described in 1853 by Karl Koch and is named after the German botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold. Over time, it has been introduced to gardens in colder regions, including Finland, due to its ability to withstand lower temperatures.

When and how Magnolia sieboldii blooms

The flowers of Magnolia sieboldii appear mainly in early summer and may continue to bloom sporadically into late summer. It is usually grown in gardens for its decorative flowers. The plant prefers temperate climates and is propagated for ornamental use, with some cultivars selected for larger blooms.

Magnolia sieboldii flower bud.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*A. ​
Magnolia sieboldii flower bud.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*A. ​. Photo: William (Ned) Friedman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Magnolia sieboldii flower, male phase.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*A.
Magnolia sieboldii flower, male phase.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*A.. Photo: William (Ned) Friedman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Magnolia sieboldii , flower.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*C.
Magnolia sieboldii , flower.​ Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*C.. Photo: William (Ned) Friedman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Magnolia sieboldii , flower detail​. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*B.
Magnolia sieboldii , flower detail​. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, accession #404-97*B.. Photo: William (Ned) Friedman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Magnolia sieboldii is used

Gardeners value Magnolia sieboldii for its attractive summer flowers and its resilience in cooler climates. In North Korea, it holds special significance as the national flower. It is also cultivated in gardens in other countries, including Finland, for its ornamental qualities.

Kinds of Magnolia sieboldii

There are three recognized subspecies. Subsp. japonica is a low shrub from Japan with six-tepaled flowers and greenish-white stamens. Subsp. sieboldii, found in Japan, Korea, and eastern China, is a tree or large shrub with 9 to 12 tepals and reddish-purple stamens. Subsp. sinensis, from southwestern China, has larger leaves and flowers similar to subsp. sieboldii.

What Magnolia sieboldii means

Magnolia sieboldii is a symbol of national pride in North Korea, where it is called mongnan or mokran. Its beauty and hardiness have made it a favorite in gardens beyond its native range. The plant is also recognized in horticultural circles for its ornamental value.

Where Magnolia sieboldii is used and seen

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical GardensA historic garden and zoo in Central, Hong Kong with themed plant collectionsKórnik ArboretumPoland’s oldest and largest collection of trees and shrubs, near Kórnik CastleHolden ArboretumA vast botanical garden and arboretum in Kirtland, OhioNew Orleans Botanical GardenA public garden in City Park with themed plant collections and art deco featuresPowell GardensA 970-acre botanical garden near Kansas City, MissouriMendocino Coast Botanical GardensA coastal garden in Mendocino County, California with ocean views and diverse plantingsSouth China National Botanical GardenA major botanical garden in Guangzhou with diverse plant collections and research focusSim's Park, CoonoorA century-old botanical garden in the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu

Questions people ask about Magnolia sieboldii

Where does Magnolia sieboldii come from?

This magnolia species is native to eastern Asia, specifically China, Japan, and Korea, where it grows in forests and woodland areas.

What does Magnolia sieboldii look like?

It is a large shrub or small tree with downy young stems and leaves. Its white, cup-shaped flowers hang down and have 6 to 12 tepals, with greenish or reddish-purple centers.

When does Magnolia sieboldii bloom?

The flowers open mainly in early summer, but blooming can continue intermittently through late summer.

How is Magnolia sieboldii used?

It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its decorative flowers and is also the national flower of North Korea.

Are there different types of Magnolia sieboldii?

Yes, there are three subspecies, each with differences in flower shape, stamen color, and leaf size, found in different parts of East Asia.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Magnolia sieboldii", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Others in the family Magnoliaceae

The whole family
Magnolia liliiflora A small Chinese magnolia with large pink-purple spring flowers 🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Flowering shrub Saucer magnoliaMagnolia × soulangeana A spring-flowering magnolia with large pink, white, or purple blooms 🇫🇷 France and 1 more · Garden flower Houpu MagnoliaMagnolia officinalis A Chinese mountain magnolia valued for its fragrant white flowers and aromatic bark 🇨🇳 China · Flowering tree Banana magnoliaMagnolia figo A fragrant evergreen tree with velvety buds and creamy or purple flowers 🇨🇳 China · Garden flower

More from China

All the flowers of China
PeachPrunus persica A flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruit 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree Common sunflowerHelianthus annuus A tall annual plant grown for its large yellow flower heads and edible seeds 🇨🇦 Canada and 4 more · Wildflower PomegranatePunica granatum A shrub with bright red flowers and a fruit full of edible seeds 🇮🇷 Iran and 9 more · Flowering shrub BirchBetula Slender trees with papery bark found across the northern world 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly bunch

Every Monday: what is in bloom, the flower festivals of the week, seven flowers you may not know and one tradition explained.