Masses of large perfumed white blooms and the buds have gold-copper boss. Note this is a fast growing tree and improves with age as it grows into a handsome evergreen. Young plants are a bit rangy and the short wait into handsome large shrub-small tree is more than worthwhile.
Starbright is a hybrid @ Yamina Rare Plants from Michelia doltsopa x Michelia laevifolia ( yunnanensis ). Arnold Teese received Michelia yunnanensis from the Director at Shanghai Botanical Gardens Mr Wang Dajun and this new hybrid is a cross with this and Michelia doltsopa that he promoted in the 1970s.
Another Michelia yunnanensis form ( sold as Michelia yunnanensis Scented Pearl ) was introduced as Michelia gracipes a species from same source by Arnold Teese, it has more compact habit and the flower buds are covered in felty copper- brown. We have subsequently introduced many other Michelia species maudiae, Michelia maclurei var sublaena, Michelia compressa, and related genera including manglietia insignis, manglietia chingi and Manglietia yunnanensis , talauma and other magnoliaceae.
The use of popular names is fine , although we must be careful to include accurate botanical reference to separate different species and hybrids. This cultivar “Starbright” is literally dripping in large perfumed flowers.
