My parents used to have a beautiful magnolia tree near their house. There was a problem with it rubbing against the house, so my dad cut it down. I was so upset because it was my special tree. It was right outside my bedroom window. In the summer, I would leave my window open and the smell the beautiful flowers would fill my room. I miss that tree so much. Needless to say, I want another one. I am pretty sure that it was a Saucer Magnolia tree, but I can't find any information about it blooming twice a year. Our tree did. Can anybody help me out with this one?
Yes, that and other M. liliiflora hybrids may flower on the new growth in summer as well as have a main flush from overwintering buds in spring. For a sheet on a small-growing series developed for cold climates: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Newintro/magnoli1.html
I got some seeds from the tree, but I couldn't get them to grow. Could it be because it was a hybrid?
Probably a flaw in your procedure. For starters, as with many other hardy trees and shrubs the seeds of deciduous magnolias require a cold period before they can germinate. This mechanism prevents cold climate trees from popping up the same fall the seeds were shed and dying during the winter.
How long can I keep seeds before they die? I still have some but it has been a few years. Also, those pictures don't look like the tree. The petals on our tree were bigger. It looked like a Saucer Magnolia, but it bloomed twice a year.
They won't be any good now. Link was to show a type you might like to try planting in your current situation, not what the previous one might have been.
Oh, thank you. I really would like to get a Saucer Magnolia again, but do you think there would be a better one than that?
Could you give me instructions on how to start from a seed if I were to get some this spring or summer? I am guessing that I would have to put them in the fridge for a few months, but I don't know much about it.
Collect FRESH seed of the Magnolia species that you desire ; thoroughly soak /wash the waxy pulp from the seeds ( this may take a 5-7 days to accomplish ) ; after seeds are cleaned place them in slightly moist peat & sand or straight vermiculite ; next place them in a zip lock bag for 4-5 months in the fridge set at approx. 39 degrees ; check weekly for aeration , germination , and molding issues ; after 5 months place the bag @ 70f+ and plant the sprouting seeds into pots . Most magnolia prefer acidic soil so a heavy mixture of peat plus possibly some sulphur may be required to achieve maximum growth potential . Good Luck !
