Magnolia denudata yulan

Superlative milky white blossoms in the shape of goblets adorn the bare boughs of this tree in February. Yulan, usually translated as “jade orchid,” is frequently featured in Chinese art. It is the official floral emblem of Shanghai. This magnolia was the first to be introduced to the Western world when it arrived in England in 1780 and is the parent to numerous hybrids, including the immensely popular M. × soulangeana.

An exquisite specimen is next to the north stairs that descend from the raised patio of Lou Henry Hoover House. In Palo Alto, a yulan planted around 2000 rises above the fence on the Lincoln Avenue side of 1052 Bryant Street.