You can grow Magnolia Grandiflora, a native of South US. I live in West Palm Beach, Florida and the climate is very similar to that of Townsville, and we have a lot of MG growing around here. It is very much used by the builders of new houses too. Slow grower but really nice.

Thanks - I tried the local nurseries and they all insisted that Little Gem would not grow here..... I even had one woman laugh at me when I asked about growing it here. I was also told that Michelias would not grow here but then I noticed in a park 6 large trees all labelled Michelia champaca with large knobbly fruit.... Can you offer any advice on how to grow these from seeds?

Funny thing about nurseries if that if you ask for a plant that they don't stock, they will invariably disparage it!

Personally I've had no luck in growing M. champacca from seed in Bris. I've bought seed--both locally and from overseas--and think that I planted it too early (ie in early spring, before the nights were consistently warm) and also probably let the seeds dry out. Just last week I finally bought the plant from my local nursery, after asking them to order it for me, and it's a very handsome plant even without the beautifully scented flowers.

However, if you can get seed from the tree then go for it--I certainly would! These are the official growing instructions:
(1) General advice: Propagate from seed as soon as hardened in a warm and humid atmosphere.
(2) Specific advice: Plant 0.75 inches deep in well-draining soil mix. Keep damp, warm and in bright light. Requires high humidity.

Let us know how you get on!

I bought a beautiful magnolia from just gardens in jindaleelast week, Huge cupped pale cream fkowers about the size of a bread and butter plate.
It is absolutely beautiful.
I think you would have to protect it from frost in toowoomba.
They are readilly available in Brisbane but mine was very expensive unfortunately.

Thanks Cestrum for the advice. I agree with your comments re nurseries!!! The irony is that I was at one of the nurseries last week (who had told me that only Michelia figo will grow here) looking for a tree to plant on my lovely cats grave (I miss him...) and lo and behold....they had a M champaca for sale!!!! So I snapped it up and so far it is doing really well. I will still try to have a crack at the seed when it ripens even though Im not sure how to tell when it is or not - plus I will have to shimmy up the tree if I want to get them fresh....

I think M. champaca seed are ripe when the figs containing them are golden in colour (I've seen a picture of that somewhere). If you live in the sub/tropics, you should have no problem growing it, either as a store-bought plant or from fresh seed. I think you'll generally find that the tropical magnolias, eg M champaca, are known for their magnificent perfume while the more temperate-climate magnolias (such as the deciduous ones) are known for the beauty of their (often large) flowers. (Some are scented, but nothing to rival M champaca.) The flowers of M. figo are insignificant visually but beautifully scented at night and early morning.

I've seen Magnolia grandiflora seeds for sale on ebay, but I don't know how long they'll need to reach flowering stage. If you're relatively young and patient, buying some seed could be worthwhile :-)

I saw magnolia grandiflora for sale at the Gympie markets yesterday. They were in an 8" pot, the plant was about 50cm high (above the pot) and they wanted $10 for them. I was going to get one but hubby put his foot down as we already had armfuls of plants, maybe next time if they still have any.

Hi there,
I live in Bangkok,Thailand - so i think we should have an even hotter climate than yrs, in that we have a prolonged dry season with temps of 37-39C for 3mths.
Anyways, the Magnolias/Michelias that grow well in here are:
Michelia alba,champaca,figo
Magnolia coco,liliifera (formerly Talauma candolei)
I think you should be able to find all these species within Australia somewhere.
Michelia champaca grows like a weed from seed here. Just collect the seeds when they are red (like temperate magnolias) and sow them right away. They should germintate within 2mths at most, regardless of temperature.
Good luck!
Yood

Yood, I envy your choice of michelias! M. figo and coco (Magnolia coco is sold as Michelia coco these days) is readily available here--I bought a M. coco for $10.50 from Bunnings last week. M. champaca I had to order thru my local nursery, but it cost less than $10. M. alba I haven't seen for sale, and believe it's hard to grow from seed and therefore is usually grafted onto M. champaca understock. You would probably have to ask a nursery to get it for you. M. lilifera is one I'm not familiar with.

My experience with growing M. champaca from seed differs from yours: multiple sowings of seed bought from a reputable ebay supplier yielded no plants. I think high temps and high humidity are vital.

I am still trying to grow M.grandiflora here in Bangkok. So far I have not managed to suceed. They grow one or 2 leaves a year and look like they are struggling...maybe because we do not have enough so called 'resting period' as our winter temps are 21-32C!!
Anyways i shall keep trying with different varieites as there is bound to be one that will grow in this tropical climate!

You could be right about those tropical winter temps! There are different cultivars of M grandifolia, though, and it's possible that one of them might be better suited to your climate than the one you've got. Your best bet is to try and find a healthy one growing in your area--maybe in a botanical garden--and then try to get one like it or maybe even propagate from it if you're allowed. Alternatively, you could try growing several of them in your garden, each one in a slightly different microclimate. Could be that there's something particular about the spot in which you've planted it--rather than the general climate--that it doesn't like.

The great irony is that people grow M grandfolia without problem in many parts of Australia, but struggle to grow the sub/tropical varieties that apparently grow like weeds in your climate!

Can M.grandiflora be grown in the northern most tip of Australia as well? If yes then it will definetly grow in Bangkok...I think!

I read on a website that M. grandiflora
"is widely cultivated in moderate temperate to tropical climates. From New York to Orlando, Italy to India, and Singapore to Brazil, M. grandiflora flourishes in all its glory. Even in China, with all its native evergreen magnolias, M. grandiflora is widely grown." So it should grow in coastal Thailand if it's grown in Singapore.

I'd have added a link but the site wont let me( some anti-spam thing)

Try searching for tropical magnolias + Richard Figlar. The site lists a whole bunch of beatiful tropical species. If only they were more readily available. The red ones are especially beatiful.

I was fortunate to be given a few seed of Talauma hodgsonii some years ago. One seedling survived and has reached about 5 feet (tubbed). First flower bud, watching it like a hawk.

If i am correct, Taluama hodgsonii is now Magnolia hodgsonii - are they the ones with huge leaves that are deeply ribbed, with purple petals and white insides?
If yes, then i also have one in my garden, grown from seed, but it is only 30cm and 2yrs old. It would be a few years before this thing blooms for me!

Yes Yood, that describes them. Apparently the perfume is wonderful.

Hi Yood,

I have bought seed from Siamseeds before and was happy.
Do you know a seed supplier of Talauma hodgsonii in Thailand?
I would love to give it a try!!
Thanks for any suggestions!!!
Best wishes, Ted.

HI Ted,

As of current, i do not know of any seed suppliers for M.hodgsonii. I was given a few seeds from a friend a few years back and currently have only 1 plant left grown from seed.
They are starting to be widely available in the markets now as i see a lot on sale in Bangkok and the provinces.
If i do know of any i will let you know.
Yood

Thanks Yood. I'll keep my fingers crossed!!