How to sow the fruit of the magnolia?

The magnolia or magnolia is a plant that can grow as a tree or as a bush, depending on the species to which it belongs, which produces spectacular flowers. Delicate, large, softly colored, and very fragrant. When these are pollinated, the fruits and their seeds ripen, which we can then sow.

But What exactly is the fruit of the magnolia tree and how is it planted? If you dare to grow it, follow our tips to be successful.

How is the fruit of the magnolia?

The fruit of the magnolia It is formed by a set of pinecone-shaped woody follicles.. It can measure between 7 and 10 centimeters in length by about 4 centimeters in width, and when it is opened, it reveals the seeds. These are red or orange, measure about 3 centimeters long and are very hard; in fact, they can remain unchanged for years.

When can they be collected? It will depend on the species and the climate, but if we take into account that it is a plant that flowers in spring, its fruits will finish ripening towards autumn.

How to get magnolia seeds?

The flowers of our protagonist have evolved to be pollinated by insects, particularly by beetles. They are rich in nectar, and also give off a very pleasant aroma, so pollinators receive delicious food in exchange for doing their job.

However it is often difficult to get seeds from these plants, unless you have two or more specimens blooming at the same time. If this is not the case, it is best to buy seeds.

How to sow magnolia seeds?

The first thing to decide is what kind of magnolia we are going to plant, since depending on this, we will have to follow some steps or others. And the fact is that if, for example, we have opted for the magnolia grandiflora, which is an American evergreen species that lives in temperate/warm climates, it will not be necessary for us to stratify its seeds, but if we opt for the Starry magnolia or any other deciduous, being Asian and living in temperate-cold climates, we will have to stratify them.

But what is seed stratification? It is a practice that tries to imitate the conditions that exist in its natural habitat, which stimulate its germination. There are two types:

• Cold stratification: It consists of exposing the seeds to low temperatures, something that many plants from temperate climates need, such as deciduous magnolias.
• hot stratification: as its name suggests, it is about exposing them to high temperatures. This is only needed by some species from arid or semi-arid climates, such as the baobab for example.

Related article:

How to stratify seeds step by step

This can be done naturally if the climate in our area is good, or artificially, for example by putting the seeds in the fridge for a few months if they have to be cold, or in a thermal bottle with hot water (without to burn) for a few days if, on the contrary, they have to be hot.

Once this is clarified, Let's see how to plant magnolia:

1. Put the seeds in a glass of water: once we have the seeds, the first step is to put them in a glass of water to see which ones are viable and which ones are not. The ones that will serve us will be the ones that sink; On the other hand, those that remain floating can be discarded since they will not germinate.
2. Prepare the seedbed:
   • If you need cold stratification, and we live in an area where winters are mild with slight frosts (down to -2ºC), we will take a tupperware with a lid and fill it with coconut fiber (you can buy it here) previously moistened and then bury the seeds a little. Then, we will put it in the fridge for three months.
     But if there are frosts and snowfalls in your area, you can plant them in pots and let nature take its course.
   • If, on the other hand, it is an evergreen species, such as the magnolia grandiflora, we will prepare a pot of about 8,5cm in diameter filling it with substrate for acid plants such as this de Flower, and sowing the seeds by covering them with a 1-centimeter layer of soil.
3. Take care of the seedbed: it is important to apply fungicide spray (you can buy it No products found.) once a week or every 15 days, because if it is not done, the fungi could spoil the seeds. In addition, the humidity of the soil must be checked, and watered when it is drying.

When should the seeds be sown?

Considering that they mature in late summer or even later, it is best to sow them in autumn-winter. We only recommend sowing in spring those of the magnolia grandiflora, since this species is a tree that is used to warmer temperate climates, and does not need to be as cold as its Asian brothers.

How long do they take to germinate?

With the magnolia you have to have a lot of patience, since may take several months to germinate. The fresher the seeds are, the less they will take, but even so, we must wait about two months to see any sign of life.

As soon as they germinate, we will have to continue treating them with fungicides during their first two years so that the fungi do not damage them.

If we have them in a tupperware, we will plant them in pots as soon as we see them germinate. This way they can continue to grow normally.

Do you dare to sow the fruit of the magnolia?