Magnolia denudata is one of the oldest magnolias in cultivation, revered in China and brought to England in 1780 as the first Asian magnolia to reach the western world. The species name — denudata, meaning naked — describes its most striking quality: the large, upright, fragrant creamy-white flowers with nine to twelve tepals open on completely bare branches in late winter or early spring, before any foliage emerges. The lemony scent carries well, making it worth placing near a path or patio where it can be appreciated at close range. Brownish cone-like fruits follow in late summer, releasing bright red seeds.

At 30 to 40 feet tall and equally wide, this is a spreading, multi-stemmed tree that needs room. It prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, slightly acidic, organically rich loam, and it dislikes extremes of drought, waterlogging, and urban pollution. A sheltered position protects the early flowers from frost damage and winter winds. Yulan is one of the parents of Magnolia × soulangeana, and its influence on magnolia breeding across three centuries is difficult to overstate.