Magnolia
Even before Chip and Joanna solidified the Magnolia’s place on our pop culture radar, the mighty Magnolia had several fans.
State flower of not one but two states, Louisiana and Mississippi, most Magnolias are assocaited with the South. Named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol, the Magnolia is an ancient genus appearing before bees did, so the flowers are theorized to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles.
Use in floral design:
I know we are all about those blooms, but the foliage is typically used in floral designs, as the showy blooms fare best on the tree not in the vase. Even then, the blooms must be savored when found since they last about a week. Leaves may be dried or preserved for longer lasting enjoyment.
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Saucer magnolia (Magnolia ×soulangiana)
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Loebner magnolia (Magnolia ×loebneri)
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata)
Blooms:
Being a Houston girl, I had to scratch my head when gorgeous pink blooms in London and New York kept filling my Insta feed, attributed to Magnolias. It turns out that their flowers can range in color from pink, purple, white and even yellow. Some varieties have double blossoms. Pink blossoms will fare well in design work, but have a short availability! Snag them while you can!