A friend on vacation sent me the attached photo from Wooster, Ohio.  When I told him that it was Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii), he asked why gardeners are not growing it. Good question!

Oyama magnolia is a 10-15 feet tall (and equal spread) deciduous tree or large shrub from eastern Asia. It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and in moist, well drained loamy soil (USDA zones 6 -8). Oyama is an ideal tree/shrub magnolia for a small garden. Spring bloom is in May, avoiding the threat of frost injuring the flower buds of this later blooming magnolia.

The 3-6 inch long medium green foliage is first to appear in April, coated with a silvery pubescence. White nodding egg-shaped flower buds appear in late June, and blooms appear intermittently thru most of the summer. The 1-3 inch wide saucer shaped flowers are white, centered by crimson stamens within. Oyama begins to flower at an early age.

Leaves turn pale yellow before abscising in mid-autumn. Small pink fruits appear in late summer, and split open to reveal orange-red seeds in late September. Branch bark wood is light gray.

Feed magnolias with a slow release fertilizer in early spring. They benefit from annual mulching.  Pruning shrub to desired shape and size, and to remove dead or broken branches.

Oyama magnolia is available from  a few on-line specialty nurseries.