Unknown shrub.

[Giles]

I saw this at Wisley.
About 5 ft tall, stongly fastigiate. It had both 'Magnolia' and 'Michelia' on the label !
From the USA, but no species name.
Thankyou for your thoughts.

[Maggi Young]

Maybe a form of Michelia figo, Giles?
 I'm not very sure where Magnolias stop and Michelias start!  Maybe Kew has the same problem? 

[Giles]

Looks a convincing match, Maggi.
- and in a somewhat spooky coincidence 'The Plantsman' has just arrived through my letterbox, with an article saying Michelia's are all Magnolias now anyway!

[Maggi Young]

Looks a convincing match, Maggi.
- and in a somewhat spooky coincidence 'The Plantsman' has just arrived through my letterbox, with an article saying Michelia's are all Magnolias now anyway!

It is as I thought, then; there is often a clue!

[Onion]

Giles,

you say the shrub is from USA? I learned that genus Michelia is only in Asia. So it must be a Magnolia.

[Giles]

Uli,
It was only a handwritten label on the plant.
It may be that the plant was obtained from the US, rather than being a native plant of the US.
(Does anyone write names in notebooks anymore ?    )

[Giles]

I found out that Magnolias have terminal flowers whereas Michelias have axillary flowers, so it would have been a Michelia, before it became a Magnolia.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Giles, I will try to remember that. 

[Onion]

Giles,

googled for Michelia 'Picotee' I find this link

http://gardenbreizh.org/photos/HIBOU/photo-76814.html

Maybe helpful.

[Giles]

Thankyou, Uli.
(another one to add to my wish list  )

[Stephenb]

I have a picture (a slide unfortunately) of Michelia figo taken in Hortus, Amsterdam in 2004. The leaves are apparently used to scent tea and the flowers have a banana scent, hence the English name, Banana shrub...