PlantFiles: Red Lotus Tree
Manglietia insignis

A myth comes true.

The red lotus tree was a plant in Greek mythology bearing a fruit that caused a pleasant drowsiness. This fruit was reported to be the only food of an island people called the Lotus-Eaters. In Homer’s Odyssey those of Odysseus' men who ate the fruit lost all desire to leave the island and had to be forced away.

The petals of the red lotus tree are indeed edible. The color of their flower is never seen in any Magnolia plants, deciduous types included. It can be tomato red, rose red and deep cherry red. The flower is not just colorful, it is also intoxicatingly scented. Guess what the fragrance profile is - hehe sweet melon! There are great variations among seedlings. Some are redder, others are more fragrant. This gorgeous ever-green tree grows to 30 meters tall (that is 99 feet). She tolerates -16 Celsius degree (that is 3 degree Fahrenheit). Her growing habit is similar to that of the Magnolia grandiflora, but her leaves are smaller and narrower which gives her an exotic appearance. Its blooms are smaller than grandiflora but truly spectacular.

To bring out the best color of your red lotus magnolia, keep the environment as cool as possible during blooming. The colder the temperature, the deeper the redness. Gladly, they bloom in winter. You may observe an interesting phenomenon. Their flowers are capable of changing color in front of your eyes.