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I've started seed from Magnolia grandiflora here but I'm not sure if the requirements are the same. The first thing to do is to soak the seeds in water to soften the coating. Change the water every day for 3 or 4 days and the coating will get really mushy. Use your fingers or rub between paper towels to wash the coating off. Once that's gone, you can plant the seeds. For the M. grandiflora, I stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for 3 months in a damp medium (sand, peat moss or damp paper towels) in a plastic tub or bag and then bring them out into room temp. 70 degrees F should do fine. Or plant them outside. I'm not sure that your variety requires the cold treatment though. Once sprouted the young seedlings/trees need protection for the first couple of years from weather extremes and critters. If you're planting outside, I'd wait until after winter. You could also try popping them into the ground now and see if they sprout but it will take a while for the coating to dissolve on it's own.
Thank you, CindyMzone5, for your long clear explanation. I'll do as you say. I've hundreds of seeds as usual and think it's a pity that I cannot distribute seedlings of a really beautiful white magnolia among my neighbours who keep telling me that they would like to have one in their gardens. It is a sort of seed that must be extremely difficult to germinate naturally because my tree has dropped lots of seeds on a soil that is practically untouched, and I've never seen a seedling coming out.
megete - That is one gorgeous tree! I hope the technique works for you. I'm no expert horticulturally and the little I know is about our southern Magnolia. Good luck!
hi cindymzone5, i'm also doing this and was going to start a thread but found this one. may i ask at what temperature you stratify your seeds? i gathered my in georgia recently and will be trying to grow them. thx!
Morph - I started some TN magnolia seeds for daughter's in-laws. Sadly, I can't grow them here.
I stratified them in some moist seed starting mix (you could use a little peat or sand, maybe even a paper towel) in a baggie in the refrigerator for 3 months. So probably around 40 degrees? I didn't freeze them. I brought them out and planted about 1/2" to 1" deep at room temp (70 - 72) and they sprouted within a month.
thank you... i have relatives in a few southern states and was thinking of trying these as gifts. i had hoped i could try here, too, but i guess i must have misunderstood. i thought i had read in another thread that someone from illinois had success. perhaps a different strain/variety?
anyway, i appreciate your info. i wasn't sure if exposing southern seeds to same stratification temperatures would be okay.
Morph - There are a few varieties of Magnolia that are supposed to be hardy in zone 5. One of the local garden writers is trying the variety Magnolia grandiflora 'Edith Bogue'. It's supposed to hardy but needs to be sheltered from the winter wind and there's a possibility of "marginal leaf burn". Forestfarm lists that one as hardy to zone 6. There's also a variety called 'Brackens Brown Beauty' that's supposed to be hardy to -18 but I would guess that the same conditions would apply. These also may completely shed their leaves but could regrow them in the spring. There's also Magnolia sieboldii, the Ogama magnolia, that's supposed to be hardy as well. There's a book called "The World of Magnolias" by Dorothy J. Callaway that you might want to check out. That's about all I know about Magnolias but I'm sure there are far more knowledgeable gardeners than I that could offer more information. I've always wanted one myself. If you're successful get some seed started (I ended up with10 or 12 seedlings on my first try), you could experiment with some in your own garden. I would leave them in pots though for the first year or two since they will need some TLC, protection from critters (rabbits, etc) and protection from the harsher elements while young. I think it's recommended that they should only get partial sun while they're babies. Hope this helps.
wow ~ thanks for all this info! i had no idea there were so many varieties. and, our local libary has the world of magnolias book so i can't wait to get that this weekend. i'm still into trees and magnolias certainly qualify. have a good weekend & thx again..
Your welcome, Morph. I'm interested to see what you find out from the book as I haven't checked it out yet. If you have any relatives down south that can get your a "cone" or two with the red magnolia seeds still intact, it's kinda fun to experiment over the winter with them. I was fascinated with them since they were the first tree seeds I ever tried.
