Magnolias, Heralds of Spring: History, Legends and Where to See Them in Kyiv

This article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. The magnolia is one of the oldest flowering plants on Earth: its ancestors grew in the Cretaceous, before bees existed. That is why magnolias are pollinated by beetles and have thick, tough petals. In the wild they grow in East and Southeast Asia and in North and South America, and the genus includes more than 300 species. More flowers with photos, names and meanings are in our types of flowers guide.

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Where the name comes from

The genus was named by the French friar and botanist Charles Plumier. In 1703, describing plants collected on his expeditions to the Antilles, he named one tree after the renowned botanist Pierre Magnol, director of the botanical garden in Montpellier. Carl Linnaeus later applied the name to the whole genus.

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Magnolia legends

In China the magnolia has long symbolised purity, nobility and feminine beauty; it was grown in imperial gardens and at Buddhist temples. A popular legend tells of a girl from a mountain village captured by bandits: she asked Mother Earth to preserve the memory of her murdered friends, and a tree with a hundred white-pink flowers grew where she stood. The bandits hacked it to pieces, but every fragment grew into a new magnolia.

A "Japanese legend" about a girl who brought paper flowers to life with a drop of her blood also circulates online. Its origin is unknown; it is most likely a modern tale rather than a folk tradition.

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Where to see magnolias bloom in Kyiv

• Fomin Botanical Garden (near Universytet metro station): the city's most famous magnolia alley, drawing thousands of visitors every spring.
• Hryshko National Botanical Garden: a magnolia collection in its arboretum.
• Parks and courtyards: individual trees grow in Mariinskyi Park, in Pechersk and in private gardens.

In Kyiv magnolias usually bloom from the second half of April, but the exact timing depends on the weather: a warm March brings it forward, and late frosts can damage the flowers. White species open first, followed by white-pink and purple ones, and the display lasts about two weeks. Outside Kyiv, Uzhhorod, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Odesa are known for their magnolias.

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A magnolia in your own garden

• Plant container-grown trees in spring in a sunny spot sheltered from north winds.
• The soil should be fertile, moist and acidic to neutral; magnolias dislike chalky soil.
• The roots are shallow and fragile, so do not dig under the canopy; mulch with pine bark instead.
• For the first 2–3 winters protect the base of the trunk and mulch the root area.
• Pruning is rarely needed: only remove damaged wood right after flowering.

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Magnolias hardy in Ukraine

Most regions of Ukraine suit deciduous magnolias: saucer magnolia (M. × soulangeana) with large white-pink “tulips”, Kobus magnolia and Loebner magnolia with white star-shaped flowers, and the compact star magnolia for small gardens. The evergreen southern magnolia survives only in the south, in sheltered spots. Mulch young plants and cover them with fleece for their first 2–3 winters.

FAQ

Can I put a magnolia branch in a vase?

You can, but cut branches drop their petals quickly. Enjoy magnolias in the garden and choose spring flowers such as tulips or peonies for a bouquet.

Do magnolias smell?

Yes, many species have a delicate citrus-honey scent, especially Kobus and star magnolias.

Read about other spring flowers in our article on early spring flowers, and order a spring bouquet with flower delivery in Kyiv from UFL.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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