I have a young M.grandiflora which for the first time this year has produced more than one flower. IMG_2123 by atropica2012, on Flickr
The lemony scent is wonderful but is a mystery as to what part of the flower is producing it. Even when the flower is way past the stage where I would expect it to be interested in attracting insects it still retains its scent ??????????????? IMG_2138 by atropica2012, on Flickr
Is that a particular clone, mine is only just starting to produce buds and is not normally in Flower until towards the end of August although it will flower through the winter if its mild. strange scent isn't it? Cant answer your question though I am afraid!
I got one of these at the last house having seen a flower on one of the forums. After 6 months it was rescued by another forum member as I was killing it rapidly. Pleased to see they do flower and live up to expectations.
Every few months I drop in at my old place, the estate near Baker St where I used to look after the garden, and I did this last week. The small Magnolia grandiflora that I planted in the south-facing border about 25 years ago was, for many years, overshadowed by a huge Acacia dealbata (that may actually have been A. mearnsii). That eventually became so tall that it was damaged in a storm about 10-12 years ago and, canted over at about 10º from vertical, it was condemned as dangerous by the local council's trees officer. Removing it finally permitted the Magnolia to flourish and it has at last become a nicely proportioned tree about 5m tall.
It was flowering when I visited. I'm not sure if it has ever flowered before (I doubt it), but it's certainly the first time I saw it do what I paid it to do when I planted it 25 years ago!
The flowers were too high for me to tell whether they had a scent.
IMG_2123 by atropica2012, on Flickr
IMG_2138 by atropica2012, on Flickr