Magnolia tripetala

I stopped a nursery today down in La Crosse that was selling these on the cheap. The owner told me she got them from a local guy that's been successfully growing them for the past 15 years. I'b be curious to hear opinions on this tree. Are the flowers ornamental? One web site reports the flower scent is disagreeable, with the habit being very course. Does this tree have any positives? For $12, I'm not going to sweat it. Overall, it was a pretty interesting day as I also got to see a grove of Chestnuts (Castanea dentata) that are about 150 years old, including the WI champion. A couple of them had trunks about 3' in diameter, and all looked to be in excellent condition.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/598417/

Scott

I think it's one of our most beautiful native Magnolias. It's also very drought sensitive. I lost ours in the 1988 drought, and I lost the replacement in the 2005 drought. Nuts.

Guy S.

For $12 you can have it and plant it where you can't smell it. I personally have sniffed all the big leaf types here (that I have planted and that I have visited), and Magnolia tripetala just plain stinks. The flowers are OK, though I think Magnolia macrophylla are better. The size of the leaves on these species are going to be a factor for you, if you cannot give them any wind protection. Those up-to-three-footers on Magnolia macrophylla can really flap.

I would give some major parts of my anatomy for some seed off those Castanea, though.

Which parts?
Hee-hee-hee!

I think one of the nicest features of M. tripetala is the fruit folicles. And all noses are different, but the aroma never affected mine.

Guy S.

I have two babies flanking either side of my drive way thanks to a sweetie. Each plant had a single bloom this year. They were very delicate and looked exactly like the photos Scott posted. The frost nailed them and then the snow nailed them and I thought they would be history but both are sporting new growth. I'm really excited about my new M. tripetala being here. I thought they would be such attractive trees when they began maturing that I put them right out front where anyone driving down into this cul de sac would be able to see them in plain view. I hope you get a few Maackia.

Recumbent--Thanks for linking me to your pics. I don't know how I missed them the first time around. Of course, there was a flurry of photos from our resident Ansel Adams, and I may have had difficulty keeping up.

VV--You decide what bodypart you can do without and I'll talk to the owner about getting seed. I forgot my camera, but he said I should come back in July to see them. I'm not sure why July, but I didn't argue with him.

Guy--Are you going to try the Umbrella Mag again or do you go with the two strike rule? What are the odds of another drought hitting you?

Equil--I think I'll just give one a try and see how it does over winter. My chances of keeping it alive are slim at best. This is my new approach--Low Expectations. Que sera sera. Riiight...I'll be whining like a baby next spring when I discover it's toast.

Yeah, I'm starting seeds all over again. The next drought isn't likely to hit until the trees are just beginnning to approach decent size, then WHAP.
I never learn.

Guy S.

Grew up with a row of them lining the drive to the far back of the property, handsome trees , leaf clean up is a bit of a problem as they drop for a long time and blow everywhere. I find the smell pleasent from a distance, 400 feet or better but pretty rank up close, you can tell that magnolias were beetle polinated, not for the indoors though the blossoms are handsome. For the dried flower enthuisiast, the leaves are wonderful either as is, for browns or painted. Worth having on the larger property but i would not reccomend for a manicured garden or anything less than an acre unless you like a bit of wildness, which i do.