Flowers:
White (Fragrant white, 3-4" dia. flowers with 12-18 petals (each up to 2" long) before leaves, in early April, ahead of the Saucer Magnolia)
Foliage:
Green (Summer foliage); Bronze (Rarely has the attractive yellow-bronze fall color)
Fruit:
Red (2" reddish-green cucumber-like pods with usually only a few attractive reddish-orange seeds in fall)
Soil:
Prefers peaty, organic soil
Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves alternate, simple, 2-4" long and half as wide, obtuse tip then tapering to base, dark green above and pale green and reticulate below, generally glabrous. Flower buds are large (0.3-0.5" long) and silky. Stems are fragrant.
