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 American Journal of Art and Communication 

Vol.8 , Issue3 May- June - 2023; 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

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THE BEAUTY AND BENEFITS OF MAGNOLIAS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN 
 

 
1Liang, Yi-Xuan 2Wang, Wei-Jie, 3Zhang, Xin-Yu, 4Chen, Yu-Qian 

Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy, Hefei, Anhui, 230051, China  

 

Abstract: Magnolia is a beautiful tree that is known for its large, fragrant flowers, evergreen leaves, and resistance 

to wind, dust, pollution, and pests. It is native to East Asia and is mostly planted in the region south of the Yangtze 

River in China. Magnolia has a pure and elegant temperament, signifying the endless life of all things. It is a high-

quality greening ornamental tree species, and is commonly used in landscape configuration. 

Keywords: magnolia, tree, flower, evergreen, fragrance, ornamental 

 

 

1. Introduction  

Magnolia, also known as magnolia, lotus magnolia, large-flowered magnolia. It is mostly planted in the region 

south of the Yangtze River because of its preference for a warm, moist and slightly acidic soil environment. It is 

a beautiful tree with large and thick leaves (dark green in colour), white flowers like lotus (the radius of the 

flowers is about 7.5 to 10cm, and the flower pieces are generally nine to twelve), red fruit kernels, evergreen for 

four seasons, pleasant fragrance, and is resistant to wind and dust, pollution, pests and diseases, and has a lot of 

medicinal value, and so on.  

Magnolia has a pure and elegant temperament, signifying the endless life of all things. It was selected as Hefei 

City, Tongling City, Changzhou City, Nantong City, Kunshan City, Zhenjiang City, Yuyao City, etc. It is a high-

quality greening ornamental tree species, and is commonly used in landscape configuration.  

2. Cultivation of Magnolia  

2.1 Breeding  

2.1.1 Collection and sowing  

In September and October every year, when the seeds of magnolia are ripe and show their red seed coat, they start 

to collect them, soak them after collection, then dry them in the shade (avoid drying them in the sun), and finally 

sow them. Sowing time is chosen at the right time (can be sown immediately after picking, or sown in the spring 

of the following year), and an environment with good sunlight, sufficient water and fertile land should be chosen, 

and watering should be done at the right time, so as to promote the seedling emergence of the seeds.  

2.1.2 Seedling grafting  

Magnolia seedlings grow slowly, so they should pull weeds, replenish seedlings, set plants, loosen the soil, irrigate 

(usually not irrigate in late autumn and winter), add fertiliser, etc., to promote rapid growth of seedlings. If the 

sunlight is strong, shade should be provided immediately; if it rains more, drainage should be provided in time; 

in case of cold weather, trellis can be built to keep warm, etc. Grafting as a common means of Magnolia breeding, 

the requirements are more strict, it is best to arrange in the spring in March and April, the grafting methods are: 

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bud grafting, without terminal bud cutting, with terminal bud cutting, the experiment proved that, with terminal 

bud cutting grafting effect is the best . As for the selection of grafting rootstock, you can choose the same genus 

with magnolia, the grafting effect will be better, and the survival rate will be higher.  

2.2 Management  

2.2.1 Spring management   

Spring management of magnolia begins with watering and fertilizing. As spring gradually warms up, magnolias 

tend to lose moisture, so it's important to keep them hydrated. Although early spring fertilization is beneficial to 

magnolia root growth, newly transplanted plants should especially be moderately fertilized. The pruning of 

magnolia can be chosen in the spring, when the climate is favorable for branch recovery. Magnolia pruning is not 

easy to too much, mainly to cut off the branches, branches and leaves that do not grow well or grow too fast, and 

promote the sprouting and growth of new branches, branches and leaves. Magnolias also have to cope with 

spraying for insects and diseases in the spring.  

2.2.2 Summer management   

Summer temperatures are high, in addition to shade, but also to maintain a reasonable level of humidity. At this 

time the magnolia is prone to water shortage, watering time is best chosen in the morning, so that it can be better 

absorbed in. Lastly, magnolia is a fleshy root, care must avoid stagnant water after summer rainstorms.  

2.2.3 Autumn and winter management  

Magnolia should especially be whitewashed in autumn and winter, both to prevent frostbite and to control and 

kill insects. Attention should also be paid to regularly clearing fallen leaves and weeds from the planting site to 

reduce insect and pathogen . Magnolia can not be over-pruned, in the winter pruning is only to remove diseased 

branches, residual branches, which not only reduces the disease, increases light penetration, but also improves 

the cold resistance.  

3. The application of magnolia in landscape design analysis  

With the development of the economy and the deepening of the urban process, the construction of landscaping 

has developed by leaps and bounds. The application of plants in landscape design contributes to the harmonious 

coexistence of man, nature and environment. Magnolia, as a plant with high ornamental value and greening value, 

has been chosen more and more frequently, in form and scope in the landscape.  

3.1 Principles of Magnolia in Landscape Applications   

3.1.1 Principle of ecological matching  

In the application of landscape gardening, it must conform to the ecological reasonable configuration[1] and pay 

attention to the principle of diversity between magnolia and other plants. First of all, it should be analysed 

according to the ecological characteristics of the natural growth of magnolia, but also grasp the degree of match 

and fit between magnolia and other plants, etc.: such as planting environment (soil, sunlight, humidity, 

temperature, etc.), planting height, planting density, planting range, planting colour and other data. Magnolia can 

be planted with osmanthus flowers, cherry , red maple, bamboo, peach blossom, plum blossom, ginkgo, camellia, 

pine and other plants, and the plants can be planted in groups, and the plants and plants can be arranged in high 

and low configurations, intertwined with trees and shrubs, paired with deciduous evergreen, and distributed in 

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primary and secondary plants, etc., so as to create the design of species-rich, staggered and diversified symbiotic 

landscape groups, and to meet the high quality demand of modern human life.  

3.1.2 Seasonal matching principle  

Landscape design should consider the different seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the growth 

pattern and changes between landscape plants in the four seasons with combinations. Magnolia flowers bloom in 

spring, magnolia fruit ripens in autumn, and magnolia itself is an evergreen plant. The four-season matching rules 

of magnolia include: “spring and summer” flower and leaf, flower and flower, fragrant and non-fragrant matching; 

autumn flower and fruit, deciduous and non-deciduous, deciduous and non-deciduous fruit (dynamic and static) 

matching; In winter, the matching of “green and withered, high and low” ......, in short, let the landscape design 

show the harmonious effect of changing scenery throughout the year.  

For example, magnolia can be paired with peach blossom, cherry and other early spring trees in the spring, to feel 

the flowers in spring. In summer, it can be paired with pomegranate and other plants to feel the elegant summer 

scenery; in autumn, it can be paired with ginkgo, red maple, osmanthus flowers and other plants to feel the 

colourful autumn scenery; in winter, it can be paired with pine and bamboo plants to feel the staggered winter 

scenery. It realises the diversification of plant matching, hierarchical structure and ecological scenery in all 

seasons.  

3.1.3 Colour integration principle   

Magnolia flower colour is white, fruit is red and leaves are green. In the overall integration of landscape colour, 

the use of reasonable configuration of colour. Such as magnolia trees and shrubs in this combination of colour 

integration, need to use brightly coloured flowers or leaves configuration; such as magnolia leaves throughout the 

year show green, can be paired with colourful foliage plants to accentuate, create a sense of hierarchy in the 

landscape. Such as magnolia's flower colour is white, white is colourless, so can be matched with flowering plant 

colour selectivity is larger, the range is also wider. Magnolia and plant colour reasonable configuration, let the 

landscape show colourful beautiful scenery.  

3.1.4 The principle of local choice  

In landscaping, preference is generally given to plant species that are suitable for native growth and cultivation, 

and magnolia's  

The growing area is in the south basin of Yangtze River, which is more conducive to the planting, transplanting 

and breeding of magnolia, and building a more stable, feasible and economical ecological landscape, together 

with the humanities, history, customs, etc., which also better reflect the spiritual and cultural value of magnolia. 

Again, the large selection of magnolia locally also saves a lot of manpower, material and financial resources, 

which is conducive to the optimal use of local land resources as well as the co-construction of frugal landscapes.  

3.2 Specific applications of magnolias in the landscape  

In the garden landscape design, like magnolia this has a certain degree of cold resistance, resistance to wind and 

dust, anti-pollution, less pests and diseases, high medicinal value, and contains noble, pure, fragrant temperament, 

set of foliage, flowers, fruits as one of the evergreen trees, in the garden greening is widely respected, is used in 

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road greening (as street trees); community, campus greening; square, public green space greening; parks and other 

environmental greening.  

3.2.1 Application of Magnolia planting  

3.2.1.1 Independent planting  

Magnolia independent planting: it can be planted as the centre, alone; it can be planted symmetrically according 

to a certain axis; it can also be planted in horizontal or vertical columns according to a certain distance; it can also 

be planted in groups according to a certain number of people.  

3.2.1.2 Matching plants  

In addition to independent planting, magnolia can also be planted with other plants. In the magnolia with the 

choice of planting, to give full consideration to the characteristics of magnolia itself, but also to grasp its 

relationship with another one or more kinds of plants with the overall coordination of plants, to ensure that 

magnolia and all the configurations of plants can be better and faster complementary, reflecting the growth, to 

achieve a harmonious and unified effect of planting.  

3.2.2 Application range of Magnolia  

3.2.2.1 Greening of roads  

Magnolia tree posture upright, elegant, evergreen, white flowers, leaves, not only can beautify the streetscape, 

but also purify the air, but also shade, is a very good variety of road greening. In roadway landscaping, choose 

magnolia in the form of larger, not too small. If you choose a smaller magnolia, easy to scratch the road 

pedestrians, vehicles, but also will make its own easy to break.Magnolia in the roadway greening, but also often 

with colourful foliage plants, more highlight the richness of the streetscape and changes.  

3.2.2.2 Greening of neighbourhoods and campuses  

Magnolia is also often cited in communities, campuses and other greening, relying on the magnolia plant's own 

colour, shape, smell characteristics, rendering the best landscape atmosphere, to create a comfortable, pleasant, 

ecological environmental experience. Generally, the colour of the buildings in the district and campus is dark or 

darker, while the flowers, fruits and leaves of magnolia show white, red and green respectively, which reflect and 

complement each other with the colours of the buildings in the district and campus as well as the surrounding 

landscapes; magnolia is not the same as other greenery, and is not easy to be over-pruned, so it shows the form of 

natural beauty, and it can soften the natural beauty of the plants and the artificial beauty of the buildings perfectly 

and show the artistic structure and line beauty of the buildings; magnolia can also be used in the greening of the 

district and campus. In neighborhoods or campuses, magnolia is mostly planted in flower beds, lawns or pathways. 

Magnolia's pure flowers and light fragrance make people and the environment blend harmoniously and in an 

orderly manner.  

3.2.2.3 Greening of squares and public green spaces  

Magnolia is mainly used to satisfy people's ornamental and experiential needs in the greening of squares and 

public green areas, such as access points, main and secondary roads, paths, lawns, and so on. Magnolia can be 

planted singly, doubly or in groups in access points, main and secondary roads, paths and other environments. It 

can also be arranged in the open lawn, large area of small slopes and so on, such as magnolia as the centre, and 

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other trees, shrubs, lawns and so on from high to low, aligned, and embellished with planting of slightly higher 

pine trees and so on, constituting an aesthetic sense, a strong sense of hierarchy of the plaza, the ecological 

planting of the public green space landscape group.  

3.2.2.4 Greening of parks  

Magnolia not only can be planted with plants, but also with water bodies, rocks, architectural vignettes and other 

elements of planting, to play the landscape in the orchid, orchid in the landscape of the view, showing the 

characteristics of the garden landscape and cultural sentiment.  

Water is the flowing soul in the landscape, and the size of the water body determines the size of magnolia to 

choose and how much to plant. Such as planting magnolia on the shore of the water body, island area in the water, 

can add a sense of space in the water landscape; also can be plants, water, shadow fusion together, depicting 

different picture sense; at the same time, flowers, leaves fall on the water, and formed another dynamic beauty; 

magnolia and water-side plant combinations, the formation of a sparse and dense, straight and curved, near and 

far the wonderful scenery.  

In landscape design, magnolia can integrate the space of plants and buildings, vividly and flexibly. Architectural 

vignettes such as pavilions, etc., in the integration, the need for magnolia and the shape of the building, colour, 

height, stature, choose the corresponding plant body, the soft lines of plants rendering the hard structure of the 

building, reflecting the unity of harmony, unity of the richness of the sense of contrast. At the same time, the 

doors, windows, columns and frames of the buildings with magnolia also form the landscape in the frame, leakage 

landscape and permeable landscape, which is a vivid interpretation of “garden aesthetics”[2] . Reasonable 

magnolia planting can also improve some functions of architectural vignettes, such as shade and coolness, wind 

and dust removal.  

Magnolia can break the monotony of the listing of mountains and rocks when it is configured with mountains and 

rocks; the words and poems engraved on some of the mountains and rocks can also increase the temperament 

quality of magnolia. Magnolia and mountain, stone ensemble, not only reflects the magnolia body, temperament 

beauty, but also highlights the unique texture of the stone and cultural atmosphere, the two united, complement 

each other.  

3.2.3 Magnolia application results  

3.2.3.1 Protection of the environment  

In landscape application, magnolia has certain wind resistance due to its developed root system, fewer pests and 

diseases, which can resist bad weather and fully protect the surrounding environment. At the same time, magnolia 

has the ability of anti-dust and anti-pollution, which can adsorb a certain amount of dust, dust and harmful gases 

(such as sulphur dioxide, chloride, hydrogen fluoride, etc.) , purify the air and improve the quality of the 

environment. The organic substances emitted by magnolia itself can also kill harmful bacteria and 

microorganisms, providing people with a clean ecological living environment.  

3.2.3.2 Landscaping  

Magnolia is evergreen in all seasons, with upright trunk, full tree shape, thick and bright leaves, and beautiful 

lotus-like flowers, which is a tree integrating ornamental and application value. Magnolia can be planted 

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independently or with other plants, and can also be combined with water bodies, architectural sketches, rocks and 

other combinations, applied in landscape greening to beautify the environment.  

3.2.3.3 Medicinal value  

The whole body of Magnolia has high medicinal functions. Magnolia bark, flowers, leaves and fruits can benefit 

the lungs, eliminate phlegm, lower blood pressure, antibacterial, eliminate fatigue, etc., and can also treat 

headache and runny nose, vomiting and diarrhoea, and wind-cold, etc., and note that its flower buds should be 

dried and ground before being used as medicine; Magnolia flowers can be used to make tea, and its flowers and 

fruits can be used to refine the essential oils, which have the effect of beauty care and slowing down the aging 

process.  

3.2.3.4 Local characteristics  

Magnolia grows in the south of the Yangtze River Basin, and has been chosen as the “city tree” of many cities, 

with a long history of planting, as well as geographic and historical humanistic and cultural values. The poems, 

songs, calligraphies, architectural works and artworks related to magnolia are integrated with local gardens and 

landscapes, highlighting the unique charm of the place.  

3.3 Evaluation system of Magnolia's application effect in landscape  

According to the above cultivation of magnolia and its application in landscape design, detailed description, 

comprehensive analysis unfolded, and along the principles of science, objectivity, practicality, aesthetics, etc., the 

indicators of each level in the system were selected, and finally, the evaluation system of the application effect of 

magnolia in the landscape was established . The overall system here should not only encompass the propagation 

and cultivation of magnolia itself, but also show the morphology, colour and style of magnolia as well as its 

harmony and unity with the ecological environment, and finally convey the application value of magnolia, etc. In 

short, the overall creation of magnolia evaluation system can better enable magnolia to be applied in landscape 

greening, and then create a more ecological, low-carbon, sustainable landscape space.  

First-level indicator layer: A (evaluation effect of magnolia application in landscape) = A1, A2, A3, A1 is magnolia 

planting and cultivation indicator, A2 is magnolia landscape design indicator; A3 is magnolia application 

harvesting indicator.  

Secondary indicator level: A1 (Magnolia planting and cultivation indicator) = a1, a2, a1 is magnolia propagation 

status, a2 is magnolia management status.  

A2 (Magnolia landscape design indicator) = a3, a4, a5, a3 is Magnolia application principles, a4 is Magnolia 

application planting, and a5 is Magnolia Application Scope.  

A3 (Magnolia application yield indicator) = a6, a7, a8, a6 is Magnolia economic harvest, a7 is Magnolia social 

harvesting, a8 is Magnolia Cultural Harvest. The weighting scores of each tier should be derived based on surveys, 

analyses and collations determined by garden professionals (e.g. Landscape design specialist, teachers, frontline 

workers,etc.) (the survey platform can be obtained by choosing advanced survey APP or applets).  

At the same time, the final evaluation results were determined objectively and scientifically. The evaluation of 

the application effect of magnolia in the landscape is divided into five levels as very good (≥9), good (9＞A≥7), 

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general (7＞A≥5), poor (5＞A≥3), and very poor (A＜3), and the following is an example of a score out of 10 

(as shown in table 1 ).  

Table 1 Comparison of effect scores of magnolia application in landscape  

(A)Scores  ≥9  9＞A≥7  7＞A≥5  5＞A≥3  A＜3  

Evaluating The 

Effects  

very 

good  

good  general  poor  very 

poor  

4. Conclusion   

With the comprehensive development of social economy and the increasing improvement of people's quality of 

life, the beautification and sustainable development of the environment have been paid attention to gradually, and 

are facing the direction of diversification[3] , ecology and speciality[4] . The propagation and cultivation of 

magnolia should be managed strictly and scientifically according to the characteristics of the plant itself and the 

local natural environment. Magnolia has a wide range of garden applications: it can be used in road greening; 

community and campus greening; square and public greening; park greening and other scopes. Magnolia is 

evergreen in all seasons, erect and colorful, with large flowers and red fruits, and fragrant. Magnolia not only 

beautifies the living environment, but also resists wind and dust, pollution and purifies the surrounding 

air.magnolia is also a treasure, has a high medicinal value and economic value; at the same time, magnolia shows 

the local characteristics and cultural temperament, and therefore has been elected by a number of cities as the“City 

Tree”. At the same time, magnolia also shows local characteristics and cultural temperament, so it is elected 

as“city tree” by many cities, with great ornamental value and greening value, and it is one of the important 

varieties of landscaping and greening. The“Magnolia Application Effect Evaluation System in Landscape” built 

on the basis of the above can better enable Magnolia to be applied in landscape greening, and then create a more 

ecological, low-carbon and sustainable landscape space.  

Acknowledgement  

Fund Program: Provincial "Fine Courses" Programme——Packaging Design (Item No.2022jpkc019)  

References  

Yin Zhipeng(2019),Discussion on Ecological Landscape Design and Plant Configuration[J], Contemporary 

Horticulture,(22),p81-82.  

Peng Yuanfang (2022),The Application of Chinese Classical Garden Aesthetics in Modern Design-The New 

Museum of Suzhou as an Example[J],Urban Architecture Space,03),P118-120.  

MA Yifang(2022),Research on the design of urban square landscape diversity and ecological diversity ——Take 

the design of the central square of the city in Fuzhou High - tech Zone as an exampl[J], Fujian Architecture 

& Construction,(11),p17-20.  

Wang Qian(2023),An Exploration of Regionally Distinctive Landscape Reconstruction from a Humanistic 

Perspective[J],Foshan Ceramics,(06),p152-155,170.  

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