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Magnolia tripetala

Umbrella Magnolia · Elkwood · Umbrella-tree

Family MagnoliaceaeGenus Magnolia

A cream flower of narrow strap-shaped petals, held above a whorl of very large leaves
FlowerMason Brock (Masebrock)Public domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
15-30 ft4.6-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
15-30 ft4.6-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

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

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 21 days.

70% germination in 7–21 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. tripetala germ. 40-70-40-70(70% in 1-3 w) and less in 70-40-70(8%)-40- 70(36% in 3rd w). Seeds given outdoor treatment or DS 6 m at 70 rotted.
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 March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 12 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6, in 21 days.

36% germination in 21 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. tripetala germ. 40-70-40-70(70% in 1-3 w) and less in 70-40-70(8%)-40- 70(36% in 3rd w). Seeds given outdoor treatment or DS 6 m at 70 rotted.
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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