Magnolia Tree

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LAKelley2 Titusville, FL(Zone 9b) Sep 06, 2007

Has anyone tried to grow a magnolia tree from a seed? I liberated some of the red seeds from a Southern (I think) Magnolia tree.

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zoneimpaired Toronto, ON(Zone 6b) Sep 09, 2007

Hello LAKelley2, Magnolia seed is very oily and spoils very quickly. I have not grown the southern magnolia, but I have grown many others. First soak the seed for several days changing the water several times a day. This allows the "fruit" part to rot. Rinse the black seed well and put it in a baggie with damp perlite or peatmoss. Put this in the fridge until next April. When you take the seed out and keep them moist, not wet you will soon see the had black seed coat split. Plant the seed in a communal pot about 1 cm. deep. Within a few weeks you should hav a seedling. I keep them in indirect light, or under high canopy for the first summer. I do not repot them until the next spring. Good luck and your patience will be rewarded. Robb.

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LAKelley2 Titusville, FL(Zone 9b) Sep 09, 2007

Thanks Robb!! I was giving up on this post and here you come to the rescue!! I'll do just that and see if they survive!!

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Sami East Prairie, MO(Zone 7a) Sep 11, 2007

I have a chance to dig up some seedlings on my clients property. They are about three to four feet tall. I went to dig them up today but I was unable to dig them because it either had a lot of roots around it or the ground is too hard. what kind of roots does a magnolia have and is it possible to dig them and live.

Sami

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jordankittyjo Bessemer, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 11, 2007

all my magnolias have very large tough roots.i don' know anything about transplanting them thogh. sorry

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CoreHHI Bluffton, SC(Zone 9a) Sep 12, 2007

In general transplanting magnolias doesn't work. I don't know about little gems but the bigger ones don't like to be transplanted.

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zoneimpaired Toronto, ON(Zone 6b) Sep 12, 2007

Sami, I would suggest that you cut around the trees with a spade after the next good rainfall. I would leave them in place until growth starts in the spring. the roots are fleshy and are easily damaged but if they had already been cut your chances might improve. I would also wrap the rootball in burlap. If the soil falls away it will probably be game over. If the trees are free for the taking, it would be worth the effort. Also, I would choose smaller rather than larger saplings. there will be less shock and they will quickly surpass the larger ones. Robb.

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 12, 2007

Magnolias have many deep roots. Most magnolias will still be standing after a hurricane, while many oaks and maples will blow over.

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