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Magnolia denudata

Lilytree · White Magnolia

Family MagnoliaceaeGenus Magnolia

White flowers striped pink at the base, opening from furry gray buds on bare twigs
FlowerThe original uploader was Yongxinge at English Wikipedia.CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Perennial, Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
30-40 ft9-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
30-40 ft9-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/TanExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, WinterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China South-Central, China SoutheastGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
6-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Yulan means "jade orchid". This magnolia has been grown in Chinese Buddhist temple gardens since 600 AD, and in the Tang dynasty its flowers were a symbol of purity and it was planted at the emperor's palace. It is the city flower of Shanghai and of Daejeon in South Korea. Wikipedia: Magnolia denudata

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 90 days.

20% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Magnolia p. 175Public domain
Show the original text
Magnolia (Magnoliaceae). Seeds are enclosed in an oily red berry, and were WC with daily brief detergent washes. Germinations might have been improved if there had been exteneded detergent washes. Empty seed coats make seed counts inaccurate. Germination is epigeal and the cotyledons develop in 1-3 w after germination. Outdoor treatment killed the seeds and seeds of M. denudata germ. 70-40(1/5 in 10th w) and 40(1/5 in 3rd m)-70(1/5 on 11th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Magnolia p. 175. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 28, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 27, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 70 days.

20% germination in 70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Magnolia p. 175Public domain
Show the original text
Magnolia (Magnoliaceae). Seeds are enclosed in an oily red berry, and were WC with daily brief detergent washes. Germinations might have been improved if there had been exteneded detergent washes. Empty seed coats make seed counts inaccurate. Germination is epigeal and the cotyledons develop in 1-3 w after germination. Outdoor treatment killed the seeds and seeds of M. denudata germ. 70-40(1/5 in 10th w) and 40(1/5 in 3rd m)-70(1/5 on 11th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Magnolia p. 175. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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