I was almost positive that I saw one at the Morton Arb in Lisle.

There is a difference between surviving and thriving. In the South, these are massive trees. Absolutely no way will you see any glorious specimens of Southern Magnolia in the upper Midwest. People in New England try to push the hardiness limits by planting them and to date I've never seen one that looked decent. The conditions here are going to be similar to Chicago with both cold and high wind except it's even colder in Chicago. This is one of those Southern plants that will remain a Southern plant unless global warming changes the circumstances.

M.grandiflora is a very good "indicator" species from what I've read (and seen). It will grow robustly and thrive in zones that are minimally 7 (especially if you select the right cultivars and have a somewhat protected site (some screening from winter sun & wind). Locally, they are hardy and I have about a half dozen varieties. I used to spray mine with an anti-dessicant in late November for the first winter or two after initial planting until becoming established. Just be aware that these can grow into very large trees so planting too close to a house (in order to take advantage of microclimate differences), is not a good idea. In more favorable zones, these trees will eventually grow--possibly interfering with the house. Aside from absolute minimum temperatures, prolonged, deep subfreezing weather (without frequent, intermittent thawing) is also probably another factor limiting its range in some areas.

I can't say that I have, Jeff, but I'm sure its been tried many times. 'Brackens Brown Beauty' is a selection that is often touted as being "possibly" the hardiest of the lot. I think it would be worth a try in a protected spot, assuming all other cultural requirements are met.

Some forms are damaged periodically even here in western maritime USDA 8.

The problem with the prolonged cold of the north is deep penetration of the soil by frost. This is why southern plants that can tolerate occasional brief periods of northern-style cold have not demonstrated they will persist in the north. They do not have their root zones frozen by one or two bitter nights followed immediately by significant warming.

Here is a link that might be useful: Antitranspirants.pdf

Not that this really means anything but a local garden center was selling 10' 'Brackens Brown Beauty' for $125.00.

My wife really wanted it but I just wasn't a fan of how dark the plant appeared.

Someone here in Milwaukee is growing them...

"This is why southern plants that can tolerate occasional brief periods of northern-style cold have not demonstrated they will persist in the north."

Its sort of like dipping your toes in ice water vs. taking a polar plunge. ;)

contact local arboretums .... and find out if the pro's are actually having any luck

if any claim such.. then find out what if any micro climate they are able to generate .... i live 10 miles from a hidden lakes gardens.. a premier conifer garden .... they can grow z6 stuff that i can not.. simply for the fact that they are nestled in a glacial kettle hole.. and the bad winter winds.. tend to howl right over the collection.. as compared to mine.. which take the brunt of it.. straight on ...

as noted above .... we all can 'get away' with things.. for a while .... but as they said on newhart last night.. ma nature is a nasty old broad.. and sooner or later... she will exercise her brand of humor and kill the things we were trying to push zone with ...

ken

No Magnolia grandiflora is listed in The Morton Arboretum's online catalog of accessioned plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Morton Arboretum's magnolias

Maybe I was thinking of the Southern Sweetbay Magnolia.

I'd still call as suggested above to see what they say.

Does Detroit count as around Chicago? Similar climate, a little cooler in the summer, a little warmer in the winter, thanks to the moderating effect of all of the Lakes. Chicago has nothing to moderate the artic cold or summer heat when it pushes in the from the Plains, except perhaps right on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

I have three of them, a Bracken's Brown Beauty, an Edith Bogue,and a Little Gem.

They survive. They do not thrive in the sense that they will never be what they would be south of the Ohio River. They are stunted and probably won't ever get over about 8 to 9 feet tall, since that is the limit of my ability to protect them. They tend to get winter burn on the foliage even with the protection of a leaf shelter, and then partially defoliate with some tip dieback. They look ratty in early spring and I feel sorry for them.

However, they have an amazing ability to regenerate quickly, put on a lot of new growth, have those wonderful glossy leaves with velvety brown backs, and best of all, put out the most wonderful, fragrant flowers from June through September, a couple at a time. They look fantastic from May through December.

They are worth all of the trouble as far as I am concerned, just to have something so beautiful and special. Probably I fall into the category of a plant abuser with this, but I just love them.

You may also be having some fungal or bacterial damage.

I've never seen any at any arboretums, and I have looked for them, but most of the ones I have seen are ones that I have planted. I can only think of one that I saw in the area that I didn't plant. It was in Gary along 15th Avenue in a very exposed location in full sun year round. I don't know when it was planted nor the variety. It looked bushy and multi-trunked, as though it had been killed back in some winters.

I have planted several, and all the ones I have watched have done very well. The first Brackens Brown Beauty I planted was in 2004, and it has done very well. There is some browning by spring time after some of the harder winters. These have gone through periods where the daytime highs don't go above 0ðF and there is no snow cover at all. I haven't noticed any die back and there is always new growth and flowers the following season.

I also do not spray any anti-desiccant nor do I wrap them or anything else.

The Bracken's Brown Beauties that I have planted have performed better than some of the trees that are supposed to do well in this area.