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Michelia yunnanensis 'Velvet & Cream'
Botanical name: Michelia yunnanensis 'Velvet and Cream'
Family name: Magnoliaceae.
Common name: Too recent to have one.
Origins: This is a recent introduction from China.
Comments:
Peter Cave (Caves Tree Nursery) rates this plant as one of the best plants he will ever introduce and he is right.
In the wild it attains the proportions of a small tree or large shrub, depending on the its wild location. In cultivation we are suggesting 4m in 10 years, or it may be trimmed after flowering if grown as a hedge. It naturally has a fairly pyramidal habit, half as wide as it is tall.
The name 'Velvet and Cream' refers to the brown velvet-like indumentum on the stems and buds, contrasting with the spicy scented cream flowers which get to 8cm across. The flowers also have a small boss of yellow stamens in the centre.
Propagation:
Michelia 'Velvet and Cream' is grown from cuttings. It will also set a bit of seed which is fairly easy to grow if not allowed to dry out at any stage. Seedlings take about 3 or 4 years to flower, although some will flower in their second year if grown well. Seedlings will of course be different to 'Velvet and Cream', and should only be refered to as Michelia yunnanensis.
Sources:
Michelia 'Velvet and Cream' is available from
- King's Plant Barn
- Caves Tree Nursery Ph: 07 827 6601, Fax: 07 827 6601
- Mark Jury Nursery
- Garden Centres do stock other forms of Michelia yunnanesis
On a recent trip to Wellington, one Garden Centre had been supplied a mixed batch of clones under the name 'Velvet and Cream', so watch out for these variations.
The mixed forms tend to have darker looking indumentum, being more black than brown. | 
