Southern Magnolia in Chicago???
meadowbrite
18 years ago
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meadowbrite
18 years agoRelated Discussions
where to find an Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia
Comments (6)hi one indication that what you read is NOT correct.. might be the fact that no local nursery carries them ... dont you think ... not much help??? ... lol ... southern mail order suppliers make all kinds of ALLEGED zone claims .... that may or not hold true in the great white north ... there is THEORY.. and then there is reality ... in reality .. it will .. most likely ... all depend on your little micro climate ... and it seems you know this.. when you say you want to 'TRY' .... have you ever seen one locally???? you might try contacting The Chicago Botanic Garden and seeing what their thoughts are in this regard .... i am also aware that Hidden Lakes Gardens in Tipton MI [just SW of ann arbor] has a magnolia collection .... see link .... you might want to contact them as they should be close in zone to you ... and see if they have any southern magnolia .... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: link...See MoreHow hardy is southern magnolia, really?
Comments (42)Actually the hardiest cultivars of Southern Magnolia are hardy to temps between -20°F(-29°C) and -25°F(-31.7°C). But that's for relatively short periods of time (hours, not days). Protection from winter sun and wind are both important in preventing leaf burning. I think winter sun protection is a little more important with this though. Even though a tree might have lots of leaf burning, it often will not have any stem or wood damage. The ideal spot to plant one in a border line area would be against a NW facing wall, which would give plenty of heat during the summer (plus retain some heat longer into the night during winter) and also afford some winter sun protection since the sun sets in the SW during the winter(in the Northern hemisphere). Some people in zone 5 that try to grow Southern Magnolias many times report they act more like deciduous trees in having most all of their leaves burned off during the winter, but releaf out in the spring and bloom, so no wood damage is done. I grow more than 1 dozen cultivars of Southern Magnolia here in zone 6 KS and none have been killed or had much of a problem with winter hardiness. Even the supposedly less winter hardy cultivar 'Little Gem' grows fine for me. I also know of many decent sized trees(30'-50'(9-15m) tall range) in the Kansas City metro area which have been through their all time record low temp of -22°F(-30°C) and the very tough, cold winters of the late 1970's and early 1980's. So, I think in general most Southern Magnolias are zone 6 hardy and a few can make it in protected spots in zone 5. Duration of cold is important as is summer heat. If you live in a colder area with abundant summer heat(temps mostly in the 80's(26°-31°C) or warmer for most of summer), you probably have a better chance at growing Southern Magnolia than an area with little or no summer heat and relatively mild winters....See MoreMoving Southern Magnolia
Comments (13)I've no familiarity with southern magnolias. But I have moved a few things people though I couldn't. For digging out, if you can't get to the bottom of the rootball, I've dug a deep trench around the roots, packed a sturdy chain into the bottom of the trench, then hooked both ends of the chain to the tow ball of a 4x4, and pulled the chain under the rootball, severing the bottom roots. To get the tree into the truck bed, I'd use a ramp and see if it's possible to roll or drag it up the ramp with help on the rootball. I'd wrap the rootball with a tarp and tie it on so it doesn't slip off. I'd also wrap the branches as much as possible to keep them together and avoid more damage. Having a few muscular friends to help isn't a bad idea. If it's a just a bit too heavy, try finding a way to brace a 2x4 in the front of the bed, then using a come-along tied around the rootball to drag it into the bed, or even onto a trailer.. Or try pulling from one of the bed tie-down points.... I don't know what a tree spade costs...but I'd think the transport costs might be more expensive than the spade. Maybe worth checking on if the new location is close by.... Keep us posted! vince...See MoreSouthern Magnolia Seedlings - how fast do they grow?
Comments (4)You can certainly containerize them in the short term for a few years. But I am not sure of your goals. Are you planning on keeping some containerized and planting the rest..., in your area (Chicago)? You are liable to hear multiple accounts regarding growth RATE as it would vary depending on...., soil conditions, CLIMATE (temps and rainfall), etc. I have not grown mine from seed but from small trees...., in NJ,...in Zone 7, in the GROUND, etc. If you are growing them in containers in less than optimal conditions, they are not going to grow as fast. I planted several of mine in 2009 from trees that were around two feet tall. The pics below are from a few years ago..., they are now up to the attic level of the house. I would not say that is SLOW!...See Moredoniki
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