Magnolia × loebneri

Loebner’s magnolia is a cross between two Japanese species, the star magnolia (M. stellata) and the Kobus magnolia (M. kobus). These two species don’t occur together in the wild, so the first hybrid was therefore a garden one, a cross made by the German Max Löbner shortly before World War I. The first plants were put on sale in 1923, and five of them were purchased by Kordes, already known as a rose-breeder, from Germany’s Sparrieshoop. Later the hybrid has been grown from seed, with numerous varieties selected and named.