Magnolia × kewensis

’Wada’s Memory’ was named in memory of the famous Japanese nurseryman, Koichiro Wada. It is fast-growing and flowers abundantly while still young. Washington University in Seattle received a batch of seedlings from Wada in March, 1940. As they grew they all looked like typical Kobus magnolias except one. It grew quickly to a considerable size and flowered young. It is assumed to be a spontaneous cross between two Japanese native species, the Kobus magnolia (M. kobus) and the willow leaf magnolia (M. salicifolia).