Propagation
This plant is difficult to strike from cuttings and is usually propagated by layering or grafting onto Magnolia soulangiana understocks. Transplanting when mature is difficult.

General pruning information
Little pruning is normally required apart from crown lifting or thinning. All branches should be cut back to the collar and avoid pruning deciduous species during spring as this encourages bleeding.

Botanic information
Leaf: The leaves are an ovate to oblong with a tapered tip and the underside are downy. The uppersurface is a mid to dark green and turns brown before falling during autumn.

Flower: The purplish pink flowers are large narrow-campanulate (tulip shaped) with 6-waxy petals. The upright flowers appear before the leaves terminally on the branches from mid to late spring.

Fruit: The follicle is composed aggregated carpels and has a cone-like appearance up to 50 mm (2 in) wide. It is arranged terminally and ripens during summer.