Michelia figo 'Lady of the Night'

Lady of the Night Port Wine Magnolia

Botanical Name: Michelia figo 'Lady of the Night' (syn. Magnolia figo)
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: China (cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen large shrub to small tree

Overview

One of the most intoxicatingly fragrant shrubs you can plant in an Adelaide garden, Michelia figo 'Lady of the Night' is a larger-flowered form of the beloved Port Wine Magnolia, prized above all else for its extraordinary scent. The cup-shaped cream flowers tinged with magenta pink are produced prolifically from spring through summer with a smaller autumn flush, and their fragrance intensifies dramatically in the late afternoon and evening — filling the garden with a rich, sweet scent variously described as port wine, banana, or Juicy Fruit chewing gum.
A member of the Magnolia family, 'Lady of the Night' is a slow-growing but long-lived evergreen shrub with dense, glossy dark green foliage that makes it equally valuable as a fragrant hedge, screening plant, topiary specimen or feature shrub. Patient planting is rewarded with a magnificent, low-maintenance garden plant that thrives across Adelaide's climate in sheltered positions.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 3.0–4.0 m H x 2.0–3.0 m W (dense, rounded bushy habit; can be maintained as a hedge from 1.0–3.0 m)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate; 20–30 cm per year; takes 5–7 years to reach 3 m; patience rewarded with a long-lived, beautiful specimen
• Foliage: Large, oval, leathery glossy deep green leaves; dense, evergreen year-round; excellent structure and attractive backdrop foliage
• Flowers: Cup-shaped cream flowers tinged magenta at the base and petal margins; larger blooms than standard Michelia figo; produced prolifically in spring and summer with a smaller flush in autumn
• Fragrance: Exceptionally and strongly fragrant; rich sweet scent with notes of port wine, banana and bubblegum; fragrance intensifies significantly in late afternoon and evening; one of the most fragrant garden shrubs available
• Seasonal Interest: Dense glossy evergreen foliage year-round; fragrant spring and summer flowers with an autumn flush; flowers form on old wood so regular pruning does not significantly reduce flowering
• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees and pollinators; dense foliage provides shelter and nesting habitat for small birds
• Tolerance: Frost hardy once established (tolerates light frost; protect young plants); drought tolerant once established; heat tolerant with adequate moisture and afternoon shade in hottest positions; dislikes waterlogging and harsh cold winds
• Planting Density: Tight hedge: 2–3 plants per metre (40–50 cm spacing); Standard hedge/screen: 1–2 plants per metre (60–80 cm spacing); Specimen: 2.0–3.0 m apart; suitable for large containers (50 cm+)
• Pet Friendly: No known toxicity to cats or dogs

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Adelaide's hotter inland positions; benefits from some protection from hot afternoon western sun in summer
• Soil: Humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil; incorporate compost and well-rotted manure before planting; slightly acidic soil preferred (pH 6.0); mulch well to keep roots cool and retain moisture
• Water Needs: Establishment: deep soak 2–3 times/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 7–10 days in summer; fortnightly in spring and autumn; monthly in winter; additional watering in summer produces denser growth and longer flowering
• Maintenance: Prune to shape after flowering to encourage new flowering growth; flowers form on old wood so pruning does not greatly reduce blooming; feed with a slow-release complete fertiliser in spring; mulch annually; low maintenance once established
• Lifespan: Very long-lived; decades with good soil, drainage and care
• Climate Zones: Well suited to Adelaide's metropolitan, coastal and foothills positions; performs best in sheltered sites; suitable across SA where summer heat is managed with afternoon shade and adequate moisture
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0); avoid strongly alkaline conditions

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Fragrance garden centrepiece planted near pathways, seating areas, windows or outdoor entertaining spaces where the extraordinary evening perfume can be fully appreciated
• Formal or informal fragrant hedge and privacy screen that flowers even when clipped, providing year-round structure with a long-season perfumed display
• Topiary or standard form specimen for courtyard and formal garden designs where the dense, glossy habit clips beautifully into shape
• Espalier against a sheltered wall or fence to create a fragrant flat screen and maximise garden space in narrow areas
• Feature specimen in mixed shrub borders alongside Gardenias, Daphne and fragrant roses for a layered sensory garden that delivers perfume across multiple seasons

Why You Will Love It

'Lady of the Night' is the plant that turns heads every time someone walks past it in flower. The glossy, dense foliage earns its place year-round, but when the flowers open in spring and the fragrance drifts across the garden on a warm afternoon or evening, it is genuinely unforgettable. Slow to get going but extraordinary once established, this is a plant to invest in for the long term.