Magnolia: the ancient flower that has survived millions of years.
- Entre Cores & Contos
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Some flowers seem to belong only to one season. The magnolia, however, conveys a different feeling: its presence seems to transcend time.
With its wide petals, striking fragrance, and very particular floral structure, it belongs to an ancient botanical lineage whose history dates back to the Cretaceous period—a time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
A very ancient lineage
Magnolias belong to the Magnoliaceae family, which consists of trees and shrubs distributed mainly throughout the Americas and Asia. Fossil evidence shows that plants related to this lineage already existed in the Cretaceous period, tens of millions of years ago.
Therefore, it is more accurate to say that the magnolia belongs to one of the ancient lineages of flowering plants than to claim that the species we see today has remained the same throughout all this time. Like any living being, it has also undergone changes and adaptations throughout evolution.
Nevertheless, its structure retains characteristics considered ancestral. Instead of petals, stamens, and pistils arranged in the manner found in many modern flowers, the magnolia's various floral organs appear arranged in a spiral around an elongated central structure.
It's as if its form still holds traces of a very ancient chapter in the history of flowers.
The ancient relationship between magnolias and beetles
Another fascinating aspect is the connection between magnolias and pollinating beetles.
Although it is common to find the statement that magnolias appeared "before bees," this comparison should not be treated as absolute certainty. The first bees also began to diversify during the Cretaceous period.
What botany reliably supports is that the relationship between magnolias and beetles is very ancient. These insects enter the flowers in search of food and, as they move among the numerous stamens and pistils, become covered in pollen. They then transport this pollen to other flowers.
Magnolias have developed characteristics suited to this interaction. Their floral parts are relatively firm and resistant, capable of withstanding the movement of beetles inside the flower. Some species also have an intense fragrance and a large amount of pollen, making them especially attractive to these visitors.
Smithsonian Gardens explains that this pollination system reveals a delicate strategy: in certain magnolias, the flower alternates between its female and male stages, favoring cross-pollination and reducing self-pollination.
A beauty that seems to carry another time.
Perhaps part of the magnolia's charm lies precisely in this combination.
She is delicate, yet resilient. Elegant, yet tied to a deep history. Her creamy white petals contrast with thick, glossy green leaves, while the rusty underside of some species adds warmth and depth to the composition.
We are not simply observing a beautiful flower. We are observing the result of millions of years of transformation, adaptation, and continuity.
In a world marked by haste, the magnolia reminds us that nature works on a different scale. Some forms of beauty do not appear suddenly: they are built slowly, spanning ages.
The Magnolia in the Art Nouveau Garden Collection
This ancient and contemplative atmosphere inspires Volume 02 — Magnolia , of the Art Nouveau Garden Collection, from Cores & Contos.
The artwork combines botanical realism with the ornamental language of Art Nouveau, preserving the natural details of Magnolia grandiflora : creamy white petals, glossy dark green leaves, and delicate rusty tones.
More than representing a flower, the new volume seeks to translate what it evokes: the feeling of being in the presence of a beauty that belongs to the present, but seems to carry with it the memory of another time.
Colors & Stories — botanical art for observing nature more calmly.
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