Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (2024)

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (1)

I just recently learned that magnolia petals are edible! Growing up we had a magnolia tree in front of our home and I remember how magnificently pungent the air smelled in the week or two that it was in bloom. It would cast out it’s petals and put on a show for all those who drove by. I never thought to eat it back then, but when I recently found access to a tree in my town, I decided to go for it. I have heard of pickling them, but to use them in a sweet application was of course the preferred way for this baker. I have a history of infusing honey with just about anything. In the past I have made both sassafras and lilac honey. I’ve even infused honey with black locust flowers and all of these have turned out to be delicious. The subtle floral notes of the flowers all complimenting the honey very well. So it was only natural to be tempted to try it with magnolia petals. I must say, it may be my favorite flower-honey. Magnolia have a much stronger flowery smell than the other flowers that I mentioned, and it ended up carrying through very well in the honey. I have yet to try it in my teas, but I imagine it would pair well with Drift tea and most likely the tea as well. Not only did I infuse these lovely flowers into honey, but I also took a chance and infused them into sugar. I might possibly have fallen more in love with the sugar infusion. Cane sugar has such a more neutral flavor in comparison to honey that the flower’s taste really shines through. It would be perfect for use with strawberries which will be arriving in the next couple of months (or will they through all this snow we’ve had?), and I imagine the sugar could pair well with blueberries as well. This may or may not be a foreshadowing of a recipe I will be releasing to you guys soon (wink, wink). Give these two recipes a try and let me know how you use them, or if you stash them away to eat by the spoonfuls while your children are napping. Either way, there will be no judgment here.

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (2)

Magnolia infused Honey

60g Magnolia Petals

800g Local Honey

Pick the petals away from the rest of the branch and inner parts of the flower. Rinse them to remove any bugs or dirt and gently pat dry with a clean towel. Place them into a quart jar and fill the jar with the honey. Put a lid on the jar and store it in a dark dry area of your kitchen for 1-2 days. You may want to turn the jar upside down halfway through the infusion time to make sure the petals remain submerged in the honey.

After they have infused the flowers will look wilted and may begin to turn brown. Pour the honey through a strainer into another clean jar. The petals will release their moisture and make the honey a thinner consistency. In order to prevent it from fermenting, store in the refrigerator.

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (3)

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (4)

Magnolia infused Sugar

50g Magnolia Petals

300g Organic Cane sugar

Pick the petals away from the rest of the branch and inner parts of the flower. Rinse them to remove any bugs or dirt and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Place the petals in food processor or blender with the sugar. Process until the petals have become finely blended into the sugar. Remove from processor or blender pitcher and spread evenly on a baking sheet.

Cover loosely with cheesecloth and store in an area with good airflow to allow the sugar to dry out. This could take 1-2 days. Once the sugar has completely dried out and has hardened, place the mixture back into the blender to break it back up into granules. *If you’d like the consistency to be more of powdered sugar, continue blending until the granules become more fine.*
Place the mixture into a jar and store in a cool dark place in your pantry. Enjoy!

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (5)

Madelyn Walters

Magnolia Infusions — BLOOM WILDCRAFT (2024)

FAQs

How long does magnolia bloom last? ›

Flowering lasts about three weeks, if no late frost intervenes – magnolias are very sensitive to this and turn brown. If you live in a region where late frosts are common, be sure to plant a late-blooming magnolia species.

What are the disadvantages of a magnolia tree? ›

The challenges with growing these beautiful trees are mainly managing the area beneath the tree and the leaf drop. The dense canopy creates deep shade, and the shallow roots compete for water and nutrients, so it's very difficult to grow anything underneath an evergreen magnolia.

What helps magnolia trees bloom? ›

Magnolia trees need a lot of sunlight to bloom. If your Magnolia tree is not getting enough sunlight, it might not flower. Be sure to plant your Magnolia tree in an area that gets plenty of sun. Magnolia trees also need the correct soil pH in order to bloom.

How do you use magnolia blooms? ›

Their flavour of the flowers becomes more bitter as they age. Although several species have distinctive flavours, the classic purple and pink saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana) is the one that is most frequently used in cooking. The petals can be consumed fresh, roasted, pickled, dried, and even used in tea.

Can magnolia bloom twice? ›

Southern Magnolias bloom in May or June and will have a few blooms that blossom throughout the summer months. If a magnolia tree were to bloom twice, like the Chinese Magnolia sometimes does, it would bloom in early spring and then again in late summer.

Why are my magnolia blooms dying? ›

Sometimes, cold temperatures kill off flower buds. This could cause bud browning and failure to flower. Magnolias can be quite sensitive to cold temperatures and to wind, in particular (see the picture of another Magnolia species with frost damaged flowers here).

Where should you not plant a magnolia tree? ›

If possible, avoid exposed, windy locations because strong winds can damage large flowers and the typically brittle branches.

How far should a magnolia tree be from a house? ›

As a result, planting them too close to any structure can damage the root system. Determining how far from your home you should plant a magnolia tree is no easy feat. However, it's best to measure about 50 feet away from your house to ensure you don't run into trouble as the tree matures.

Do magnolia trees attract mosquitoes? ›

In a naturalized area this would keep competing weeds or plants from growing too close and as these leaves eventually break down, seedlings of the magnolia have a rich soil in which to grow. You are correct this environment can hold water and breed mosquitoes and attract moisture loving insects.

Are coffee grounds good for magnolia? ›

Fresh coffee is highly acidic, so may be useful for acid loving plants like magnolias and blueberries or for gardeners wanting to turn their hydrangeas blue.

Is Epsom salt good for magnolia trees? ›

Secondary only to moisture is the magnolia trees need for magnesium. The most common source of magnesium is Epsom salt.

Can I use Miracle Grow on my magnolia tree? ›

A: Magnolias will grow in all types of soil. therefore the standard miracle grow is perfectly good ,and is significantly less expensive.

Are magnolia flowers poisonous to dogs? ›

Magnolia Bushes - Magnolia bushes offer beautiful colours and are also dog-safe. Sunflowers - There is nothing that quite says summer like a sunflower - they're dog safe and great for the wild birds who visit your garden!

What do you put at the base of a magnolia tree? ›

Mulch. Mulch the area around your magnolia tree's root system. Their shallow but forceful roots make it very difficult for other plants or lawns to share resources, so mulch can help hide any bare spots created by your magnolia.

Do magnolia trees bloom all summer? ›

There are a wide variety of species and hybrids in the magnolia family of trees. They bloom all the way from January through September and as early as 3 years old to as late as 25. With so many varieties, it can be hard to choose just one.

How to make magnolia blooms last longer? ›

Once your arrangement is set, it's time to put the flowers somewhere where they are out of direct sunlight and heat. Your magnolia flowers should last at least a week as long as you keep them out of the sun and change the water every few days.

What to do with magnolia after flowering? ›

When and how to prune your magnolia depends on whether it's deciduous or evergreen. Deciduous varieties should be pruned in late summer, evergreen varieties should be pruned in spring, and wall-trained specimens should be pruned in summer after they have finished flowering.

Why do magnolia flowers turn brown so quickly? ›

Question: Why do the flowers on my big southern magnolia tree turn brown so quickly? Answer: Magnolia flowers only last a couple of days, at which time they take on a dusty brown color and shatter to the ground. That's totally normal. Since they bloom in May, early hot weather can also speed up their decline.

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