On Sunday, September 29, 2013 11:12:35 AM UTC-7, New Guy wrote:
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.

I know absolutely NOTHING about the subject. That is why I am entitled to rush in and suggest. g

Would cracking the seed help?

HB