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How fortunate is Japan to have the very beautiful Mokuren (magnolia) as a native of its islands. They are among the world's oldest flowering plants, with their fossils found in rocks 58 million years old. From a large family of eighty species of trees and large shrubs, their showy, fragrant flowers of white, pink, purple, green or yellow are followed by showy red or pink fruits with red, orange or pink seeds. This magnificent show of nature has made the Mokuren immensely popular, being grown in gardens, on school grounds and for centuries the Japanese have been growing Magnolia stellata as a flowering pot plant called
Shidekobushi.
Though Mokuren were known in ancient Asian cultures they were first introduced to Europe and America in 1780 and are now among the ten most popular flowering trees in the U.S.
Aside from their ornamental value several species are harvested for timber and two are used for furniture. Mokuren wood is traditionally used for Japanese chef's knife handles, as it is known for its water-resistant qualities. Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine uses the bark from Magnolia officinalis in infusions, as an anti-stress and anxiety agent.
The beauty of the Mokuren bloom has inspired many haiku and artists have favored it on their ceramic creations and kimono designs. Why would they not, for in Japanese culture, this exotic flower represents sublime spirit and purity? The tree itself bears a strong life power that allows it to endure winter winds that bring forth a bloom the world has come to find intoxicating.
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