Magnolias are mainly grown as specimen trees, their great interest being the large, showy, flowers that in many species appear on bare stems before the leaves open. They also produce wonderful cone-like fruits that split to reveal shiny, red-coated seeds in autumn.

Magnolia officinalis var. biloba is a vigorous deciduous tree with attractive, large leaves (up to 45 cm long). The flowers are also large (20 cm wide), and are creamy white with bright crimson stamens, and fragrant.