An ornamental evergreen Chinese shrub, Michelia figo (family Magnoliaceae), with heavily scented cream-coloured and purple flowers, thought by some to smell of port.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), novelist and playwright.
Definition of port wine magnolia in US English:
port wine magnolia
noun
Australian, NZ
An ornamental evergreen Chinese shrub, Michelia figo (family Magnoliaceae), with heavily scented cream-coloured and purple flowers, thought by some to smell of port.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), novelist and playwright.