''Magnolia'' 'Elizabeth' is a hybrid ''

Magnolia ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphological research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendr ...

'' that is the offspring of a cross between ''

Magnolia acuminata ''Magnolia acuminata'', commonly called the cucumber tree (often spelled as a single word "cucumbertree"), cucumber magnolia or blue magnolia, is one of the largest magnolias, and one of the cold-hardiest. It is a large forest tree of the Easte ...

'' (cucumbertree) and ''

Magnolia denudata ''Magnolia denudata'', the lilytree or Yulan magnolia (), is native to central and eastern China. It has been cultivated in Chinese Buddhist temple gardens since 600 AD. Its flowers were regarded as a symbol of purity in the Tang dynasty and it ...

'' (Yulan magnolia). It is the result of a breeding program to create yellow-flowered varieties conducted at the

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is a botanical garden in the Borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn in New York City. The botanical garden occupies in central Brooklyn, close to Mount Prospect Park, Prospect Park (Brooklyn), Prospect Park, ...

beginning in 1953, and was named for Elizabeth Van Brunt, who donated funds to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

In cultivation

''Magnolia'' 'Elizabeth' is a deciduous tree typically tall and spreading to wide. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, and is airpollution tolerant. Its Plant Patent was granted in 1977. With its cream to pale yellow flowers, ''Magnolia'' 'Elizabeth' gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

in 1993. Unlike species magnolias, it is approved for planting in New York City streets and parks.

References

Elizabeth Interspecific plant hybrids Ornamental plant cultivars Ornamental trees {{Magnoliales-stub