Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia x soulangeana
Learn about the saucer magnolia including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Traits
- Large, tulip-like pink and white blossoms in early spring
- Smooth, light gray bark
- Upright branching and growth habit
Native Range
- None (plant breeders developed this hybrid)
Story of the Tree
The most notable saucer magnolia on campus is located at the southeast entrance of the Legislative Building.
During the spring, these trees blossom and become beautiful. At this time, the branches are bare except for the large white and purple flowers.
History
In the 1960s, Tacoma News Tribune journalist Jack Pyle dubbed a saucer magnolia tree near the Legislative Building the sine die tree because it blooms in early March after the French phrase for the end of the legislative session, which occurs around the same time.
Unfortunately, the original sine die tree was cut down by mistake during sidewalk construction in 1975. This magnolia species is bred exclusively for ornamental purposes.
Chevalier Étienne Soulange-Bodin, an officer in Napoleon's army, hybridized two Chinese magnolia species to create the saucer magnolia, which first flowered in 1826.
