Botanical Nerd Word: Precocious

Magnolia blooms

Precocious: Developing or appearing very early; with the flowers developing before the leaves.*

The Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ in the Westview Terrace is already starting to flower! It always blooms earlier than the other magnolias thanks to its warm, sheltered location.

*Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.