Talk:Magnolia grandiflora

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1. CHANGE: Under the section: CULTIVATIONS AND USES, I am making this change:

From:"On the east coast of the United States, cold-hardy cultivars have been seen planted up to and even north of the Ohio River, where it stays a shrub."

To: "On the east coast of the United States, cold-hardy cultivars have been seen planted up to and even north of the Ohio River, where large tree specimins become increasingly more rare and eventually are only found as shubs before disappearing altogether from the landscape."

I believe that this is a much more accurate statement of fact as tree-sized Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia) are not that uncommon in the Cincinnati area and extreme southern Ohio as the climate in this region is more consistant with Kentucky than the rest of Ohio; in-fact, there is even a swath of Tennessee-like climate proximal to the Ohio River (within a few miles on either bank of the river) due to the moderating effects of a relatively large body of water, the generally north to south orientation of the river hills that can rise over 300 feet which provide a winter-wind baffle effect, and other moderating conditions which combine to make this area at least half of a USDA climate zone warmer (with some even more mild "micro-climates"). This fact can be observed without bias by referring to the USDA Climate zone map. I hope that this change in text is to everyone's liking.

With respect to all contributors and to the integrity of Wikipedia, Paul in Cincinnati

- I might be incorrect, but wasn't the cultivar "Bracken's Brown Beauty", which is commonly planted as a street tree by the City of Cincinnati, developed near the Spring Grove Cemetary in Cincinnati, Ohio?

2. I strongly disagree with the claim that this tree remains a shrub North of the Ohio River; there are some rather spectacular specimin trees in the Cincinnati, Ohio area that are clearly not shrubs, unless you are the Jolly Green Giant. More acurately, it could be said that large tree specimins become increasingly more rare north of the Ohio River and eventually are only found as shubs before disappearing altogether from the landscape - or something like that, I just don't want to hack an otherwise excellent article before review by peers. Just an F.Y.I., the "champion" Southern Magnolia, which is in the Greater Cincinnati Area, is over 40 feet high and with a circumference of 110 feet; that is hardly a shrub. This can be referenced on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources official website located at: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/bigtrees/nativechamps.htm [[1]]

Thanks,

Paul in Cincinnati, Ohio

3. I would like to know if I can take the seed in the middle of the flower and start a plant from it? Also if I can't is there a way of starting a plant?

Answer:

Seedling Development- The best natural seedbed is a rich, moist soil protected by litter. Even though viable, seeds rarely germinate under the parent tree because of reported inhibitory effects

4. A very large and old southern magnolia near my house has been damaged by construction (e.g.several low branches torn off). The trunk is now exposed to the northwest wind, which can be cold in central Virginia at this time of year and hot and drying in summer. Vertical shoots are visible near the trunk. I have read that magnolias do not recover from wounding. Does anyone have any suggestions about the best care for this beautiful tree? What are its chances of survival? I am not the owner, but might be able to take some steps to help. Thank you in advance for any guidance.

[edit] Infobox photo

I moved the existing infobox photo to the gallery as it is not one of the best illustrations of the true appearance of Magnolia grandiflora's flowers and leaves, the view and appearance of the flower is very poor in that photo. I then moved better illustration of the flower and leaves from gallery to infobox. -Altairisfar (talk) 20:24, 5 December 2007 (UTC)