Question
Hi Mr. Hyland,
I live here in Charleston, SC and I just got a handful of Magnolia seeds from a tree here. How long should I let the seeds sit before planting them? The seeds are soft from the ones I got yesterday and the ones I got three weeks ago are dry and hard now. I read your article about removing the seed coat, you are referring to the red outside portion of the seed? Will the seed work ok if I leave the red coat on the seed? I just got twenty little starter Magnolia trees where the man told me he put them in a pot and they just came up. It sounds too simple and easy to happen that way. I appreciate any advice you can give me on planting these seeds!
Sincerely,
Ed Graham

Answer
Most magnolias are grown from seeds, or from cuttings, by grafting or by layering. Rare kinds are sometimes propagated by grafting in winter or spring in a greenhouse. The period between sowing of the seed and germination may be as long as 18 months. Magnolia Grandiflora trees grown from seed may take from 15 - 20 years to produce a blossom, while trees that are grafted bloom much sooner. Please keep in mind that trees grown from seed may not be exactly like the tree the seeds came from due to haphazard pollination.

Seeds should be sown in a fresh state, and not allowed to dry out. Remove the seeds just before the pod bursts open or immediately after.

Remove the red-orange coating. This can be done very easily if you soak them in water for a few days. If, when put in water, the seeds float on the surface, they have gotten too old.

Squeeze out the hard seed and wash them in dishwashing liquid to remove the oily coating that prevents them from absorbing moisture.

Sow in a light compost of two parts peat, one part loam and one part sand. Don't let the seeds dry out. Cover with 1/2" of compost. Cover the tray or pot to maintain moisture and protect the seed. They should germinate in about four weeks. Pot them after about four weeks, making sure the roots don't dry out.