Magnolias are an ancient genus of plants that were around over 20 million years ago, before bees appeared. The two then evolved together, which caused the carpels of the Magnolia flower to become tough, to avoid damage from beetles. The beautiful Magnola heralds in Springtime when their bare deciduous tree frame sprouts into colour as their large flower buds burst open. Most Magnolias grow to a modest size of about 3 to 4 metres and require little to no attention in the garden.