I have lurked here for some time, occasionally answering questions but I had
first better introduce myself. I live in Hertfordshire and have a large
garden on sandy soil, southeast facing on top of a hill - so I suffer from
all the drought conditions you could imagine. With trial and error I have
planted this garden over the last 18 years and have added copious amounts of
garden compost and occasionally well rotted horse manure. I try to work with
the soil, rather than attempt to change it (with help from Beth Chatto's
garden books).

Now to my Magnolia query. I inherited a lovely Magnolia soulangeana
(possibly Lennei) when moving in and in the last 2-3 years I have
successfully germinated some seeds (which took about ten years to
accomplish). The older seedlings are between 6-24". My main query is how
long will it take for these seedlings to flower and, as they have no other
magnolias to cross fertilize in the immediate vicinity, what possible
variation in colour and form could I get?

Many thanks

Steph Power