A fully bloomed, brightly shining magnolia evokes amazement and admiration even among those who usually pass by plants without a second glance. The large number, extraordinary size, and noble shape of the individual flowers are unmatched in our regions. The genus includes deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, with about 80 species found in tropical Asia, East Asia, the Himalayas, and the Atlantic region of North America. The most well-known species are the East Asian ones: Magnolia kobus, M. stellata, and M. x soulangiana. In their native China, magnolias are ancient cultivated plants. M. denudata was already valued as a temple tree during the Tang Dynasty (618-908). Originally, magnolias were reserved for the emperor, who gifted them as a special honor. In the 7th century, magnolias also made their way to Japan, where they quickly became part of the gardening culture.