6 Stunning Summer DIYs with Magnolia Blooms, from Trendy to Tasty!

So you’ve got the summer crafting itch…

If you’re lucky enough to have a magnolia tree in your back yard, the world is your oyster!

Summertime is prime time for Magnolia Grandiflora to be covered in its signature creamy blossoms.  While these trees are evergreen, their flowering season only lasts a few months.

From tasty fun to family friendly crafts to elegant seasonal decor, your magnolia tree is ripe and ready to make your day (literally!).

For Quick & Easy Fun

1. Build a Summer Bouquet

Magnolia flowers are notoriously ephemeral, only lasting for a day or two once cut from the tree.  But, if you’re looking for a quick way to spruce up the picnic table at your summer cookout, you can’t ask for a better bloom! While you can certainly pair these flowers with some greenery and other florals from your local supermarket, we’re pretty partial to the look of fresh magnolia leaves alongside the blooms.

If you need to cut your blooms in advance of your cookout, do it first thing in the morning and avoid touching the petals.  Immediately put them in water, and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to display your creation.

To lean into the Southern-Chic and rustic charm that the magnolia offers, get creative with your vase.  Mason jars are a classic, but any textured glass bottle will work wonders for your aesthetic.  Decorate your vase of choice with string lights, a little bit of twine or red checkered ribbon, or leave the vase as is – the choice is yours!

2. Take a Flower Bath

If you’re the kind of person who loves a good bubble bath, try treating yourself to a flower bath.

Magnolia blooms are prized for their sweet fragrance.  Go out to your tree, harvest a bloom or two, and rinse the petals.  You may also want to separate the petals from the center of the flower to avoid bathing in pollen.  Scatter the petals in your bath and allow the heat of the water to release their essential oils and sweet smell.  Relax and enjoy.

For Simple Crafts that Last

3. Make an Eternal Bouquet

This is perfect if you adore the look of your magnolia flowers, but don’t want to over-harvest from your tree. 

You’ll need to make a quick run to your local hobby & crafting store for flower silica.  It’s a reusable way to preserve flowers without pressing them or waiting for them to shrivel and dry out.

In a deep tupperware container that seals, pour 1-1.5 inches of silica into the bottom.  Harvest your flower, and make sure you include some stem or branch in your cutting.  Don’t wash your flower, but do make sure you shake off any dirt and debris from the bloom. 

Place the flower stem down, face up in the silica and start to add silica to the container around the petals.  Try to do this in a way that supports the natural shape of the flower and avoid crushing the petals under the weight of the silica.  Completely cover the flower in this silica, and add another inch or so on top once the entire flower is nestled in the preserving silica.

Pop a lid on your container and wait a few weeks until the flower is completely dry.  Carefully remove the flower from the silica (which you can and should reuse!) and style it however you like in a vase.  This bouquet will never turn brown, though it is fragile, so be gentle in your styling!

For a Tasty Treat

This flower has it all! Magnolias have a delicious gingery flavor that lends incredibly well to a number of tasty treats.

4. Create Your Own Magnolia Syrup

Most syrups are a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.  Agave, honey, or any soluble sweetener of your choice will also work, as long as it’s in the same ratio. 

You’ll need the washed petals of a bloom. Separate the petals from the center of the flower – you won’t need the center, as it’s quite bitter and will spoil the flavor. 

Combine your equal parts sugar and water (we recommend starting with 4oz/a half cup of each) in a pan over medium heat, and bring it to a simmer.  Add your petals, then turn off the heat and allow your concoction to rest on the stovetop until it reaches room temperature. Strain out the petals, and store your syrup in the fridge.  It’ll keep for about two weeks.

5. Pickle Your Magnolia

Because of their ginger-y taste, pickled magnolia is a common accompaniment to sushi in many Asian countries, where the tree is native. 

Recipes vary, but you’ll need to make a brine of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt on the stove.  Add your washed magnolia petals/buds, and combine them with the brine in a jar.  Once the jar cools to room temperature, store your creation in the fridge for up to a year!

This makes a great addition to salads, ramen, at home poke bowls, or any dish you’d have pickled ginger with. 

6. Brew Magnolia Tea

Enjoy magnolia tea fresh, or well after the blooms are dried! 

As you’ll notice with all our edible options, you’ll want to separate the petals, then give them a good wash. 

If you’re enjoying this tea with fresh blooms, harvest a younger flower for your drink. Add your fresh petals to hot, boiled water and let them steep to your desired strength of flavor.  Sweeten with your sugar of choice, or take the tea as is after you strain the petals out! 

Many people note that magnolia tea tastes particularly good in a blend with other earthy, spicy flowers.  Chai and turmeric are great additions to your pot!

To save your tea for year round enjoyment, dry your flowers.  Older blooms are perfect for this use, and you can harvest throughout the season.  Try to gather these blooms just before your tree drops them naturally. 

Preheat your oven to 150, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Rinse your blooms and pat them dry, then spread them out on your baking sheet. Bake for an hour, or until the bloom is fully dehydrated.  Keep a watchful eye on your oven to avoid burning the flowers. Using a mortar & pestle, a spice grinder, or your hands, crumble your dried blooms.  The goal is a “torn paper” look, not a fine powder.  Store indefinitely in a container of your choosing, and brew with reusable tea bags any time you like!