Each month, Rachel Lambert – foraging guide, artisan maker and award-winning author – will be writing a journal for us, reflecting on the changing seasons and observations on nature and landscape around us. Rosyansow is the Cornish word for wanderings or ramblings, and for the month of April , she has written about the magnolia tree for us.
Photo taken in Morrab Gardens, Spring 2026
“No group of trees and shrubs is more favourably known or more highly appreciated in gardens than magnolias and no group produces larger or more abundant blossoms”
Statement from British plant hunter Ernest Wilson, 1876-1930
In my opinion, magnolias are one of the bravest flowers. As early as March they begin to open, sharing with us their bold shape, colour and size. Fossil records show they have existed for over 100 million years too, another sign of their brave existence throughout time.
Here in Penzance they are a joyful sight when in flower, while many native trees are still barely in bud, magnolias share their flouncy glory.
Do you have a favourite Magnolia tree in Penzance?
Some of my favourites are the large tree on Alverton road, the beautiful one in a front garden on Penrose terrace and of course the array of magnolias in Morrab gardens where they can be viewed more intimately.
Further afield, Trengwainton gardens make an annual tradition of inviting locals and visitors to come and view the magnolias in flower. At Caerhays estate in mid Cornwall, you can view one of the UK’s national magnolia collections, where you can see a 100 year old magnolia tree in bloom.
Magnolia trees can grow up to 80 foot tall, and can create a wonderful broad shape up to 40 foot wide as well as an unusual array of ‘adornments’. Daisy Wright the Children and Youth Engagement Lead here at The Gardeners’ House has been getting really inspired by magnolias and wants to celebrate everything about them this April.
Celebrating the weird and wonderful of magnolias
Look out for the Spring Magnolia Singing workshop (16 April), then there’s the Music and Magnolias evening (Saturday 25 April) and then the finale: Magnolia Festival Day on the Sunday 26 April with Penzance Silver Band.
Magnolia – a Hamyln care manual by Graham Rankin, available to view at The Gardeners’ House
Celebrating the beauty
If beauty is more your bag, and the best of the flowers have already shed their petals, then do pop into The Gardeners’ House to view the most recent donation of Graham Rankin’s book on Magnolias – a feast for the eyes.
Varieties of magnolia in Morrab Gardens
Some of the varieties here in the gardens include; Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia Kobus), Lily Magnolia (Magnolia lilliflora) and Chinese Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana).
Did you know?
Both Chinese magnolia and Cucumber magnolia are known as edible varieties, the former described as ‘Bitter orange, sour, black pepper’, the latter as ‘V. nice: lavender and lemon, would be nice on cakes’ (Handmade Apothecary – Magnolias).
I’ve written about Magnolias in my own blog too, introducing recipes and ways to enjoy magnolias in food. I always like to pick the just fallen flowers, leaving the full flowers intact to be fertilised and enjoyed by others.
Magnolias in Morrab Library
Finally, if you want to find out more about magnolias in Cornish Gardens, head over to our neighbours at Morrab Library. There you’ll be able to peruse the reference section – sorry this one can’t be taken out on loan – and see: Magnolias in Cornish Gardens.