I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

In article
,
Chris Nelson wrote:

I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=magnolia+seed+pods

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

http://www.youtube.com/usnationalarchives

Chris Nelson wrote:
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

They are the pods. I advise you not to fall asleep near one...

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

In article ,
John McGaw wrote:

Chris Nelson wrote:
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

They are the pods. I advise you not to fall asleep near one...

Best in the black and white movie.

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

http://www.youtube.com/usnationalarchives

On 7/5/2009 10:51 AM, Chris Nelson wrote:
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

Having flowered, the magnolia then tries to form seeds. These are the
"fruit" that contain the seeds.

Seed formation can stress a plant. Wood, leaves, and flowers are mostly
carbohydrates, which are easily produced from water and carbon dioxide
by the action of sunlight on leaves. Seeds, however, contain oils and
proteins, which require a much more complicated plant chemistry to
produce. The effort to produce seeds very often causes a plant to stop
flowering. That is why we "deadhead" roses and other flowering plants.

I recommend that the immature pods be picked off the bush as soon as
flowering is over. Just give them a little twist. This will promote
more vigorous growth, leading to even more flowers next year.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

Chris,
My magnolia get these as well. For the seed pods to be this big, I'll bet
your Magnolia is a large mature tree.

If you have turf under the tree, try not to leave the pods on the ground as
they rot quickly and kill the grass around the pod for an inch or so.

Jon

On Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:39:47 -0400, "Zeppo" wrote:


"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

Chris,
My magnolia get these as well. For the seed pods to be this big, I'll bet
your Magnolia is a large mature tree.

If you have turf under the tree, try not to leave the pods on the ground as
they rot quickly and kill the grass around the pod for an inch or so.

Jon



My neighbor planted an Magnolia tree along the property line and now I
have leathery leaves to contend with. I compost everything, but
these leaves are very rot resistant. I do not like it.

"Phisherman" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:39:47 -0400, "Zeppo" wrote:


"Chris Nelson" wrote in message
...
I live in northern New York State (just north of Albany) and my
magnolia (a M. soulangeana or M. stellata, I think; it has pink and
white flowers in the spring) is dropping strange looking pods. They
look like pickles or maybe the bumpy tip of an asparagus. They're
about 2-3" long and 1/2" in diameter. I don't remember seeing any
last year (my first year in this house). What are they?

Chris,
My magnolia get these as well. For the seed pods to be this big, I'll bet
your Magnolia is a large mature tree.

If you have turf under the tree, try not to leave the pods on the ground
as
they rot quickly and kill the grass around the pod for an inch or so.

Jon



My neighbor planted an Magnolia tree along the property line and now I
have leathery leaves to contend with. I compost everything, but
these leaves are very rot resistant. I do not like it.

I have a huge Southern Magnolia tree. I shred the leaves and grind the seed
pods. After that, they both compost very well.

I suggest that immature pods are picked off, as soon as Bush blossom end. Just give them a little distorted. This will promote stronger growth, leading to even more flowers next year.

Hi I live in NEWNAN Ga and have the same thing. The tree is a Star Magnolia and first year this happened.
Tree obviously 15 or so years old. I am trying to find out as well.

On 5/9/2020 3:06 PM, wrote:
Hi I live in NEWNAN Ga and have the same thing. The tree is a Star
Magnolia and first year this happened. Tree obviously 15 or so years
old. I am trying to find out as well.

Those are fruit, formed when the flowers fade. Yes, they are dry and
not at all what you might think when you hear "fruit". To a botanist,
however, they are indeed fruit.

You might snap off any you can reach. A very few might form seeds,
which can stress the plant. Thus, you remove them before they mature.
This is the same thing as cutting away faded roses or other flowers
before they form seeds.

On a mature southern magnolia (M. grandiflora), these pods are large.
The red seeds form in surface holes. Generally, they are too high up in
the tree to remove. However, mature southern magnolias generally set
seeds without suffering much stress. A mature southern magnolia is a
very large tree, as much as 80 feet tall and spreading 60 feet. When
mature, your star magnolia (M. stellata) is more like a very large
shrub, not much more than 10 feet tall and spreading as much as 20 feet.
Thus, the stress of setting seeds is greater for your magnolia than for
a southern magnolia. Fortunately, the stress of setting seeds will NOT
shorten the life of your tree; it might only reduce next year's flowers.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

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