On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:48:47 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 29/09/2013 18:19, Paul Dudley wrote:
Hello gardeners. I have been trying to reproduce Umbrella Tree
( Magnolia Tripetalis )from seed with no luck what-so-ever. I've
removed seed from cones and then soaked for a few days to loosen and
remove the red outter skin. I've planted the hard black seed in the
ground, in soil filled flower pots, in wet paper towel and have been
soaking some in water for the past few weeks to no avail. I can't seem
to get these seeds to sprout. I have seen seedling plants in the wild
so I do know they will grow from seed. Perhaps they've been through the
digestive tract of one animal or other to soften the shell some. ( ? ).
Anyone have any suggestions ? I would prefer seedlings verses cuttings.
Is some form of scarification required ? Has anyone out there ever
propegated said trees ?
TIA
Paul
Was the seed ripe when you removed it from the cones? According to
http://www.ibiblio.org/openkey/intkey/web/MATR.htm the fruit takes a
year to mature. Have you tried stratifying the seeds for several weeks
in a refrigerator, or leaving them out in pots over winter to allow the
cold and frost to get at them? This is from
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/lppi/sp244.shtml :
Propagation by Seed:
Time of year to collect seed: Autumn Time of year to sow seed: Summer
Seed treatment: stratify 40 degrees F 4-5 months.
Preferred temperature for germination: 70-85 degrees F Time required for
germination: 3-4 weeks Comment: Mulch seed-beds.
By the way, the correct name is Magnolia tripetala, not tripetalis.
Most informative. Thank you. 'specially the ala vs alis. I have dug
them up in the past and transplanted but I must have damaged the tap root
in each case as they grew somewhat stunted the first few years and then
grew more branch growth than normal. Much too bushy. That is my main
reason for wanting to grow seedlings. I will try putting the seeds in the
fridge as suggested and will see what happens in spring. Next fall I will
try again with fresh seed.