We usually don't have too much snow -- this past year we had almost none -- but we've had some years with heavy snow. The area it will be planted is fairly sheltered. I read about one grandiflora cultivar that handled snow well, but can't remember which one it was. I've seen the spring grove cultivar online -- has anyone experienced the fragrance? I'd prefer an evergreen tree but if the fragrance filled the yard, a deciduous one could be in the running. Sorry bboy, must have misinterpreted your comment re: topiary -- i see now you meant that it's more tolerant of different types of pruning. I did look at sweetbay and wondered about the fragrance. Is it strong? I saw a description of "lemony" fragrance but wasn't sure if that was accurate. I am appreciative of the recommendations for what will live in my area, and also want to make sure the tree has an enveloping, strong fragrance to perfume the yard. It is to be planted as a memorial. Lots of people successfully grow Edith Bogue and BBB in this area; are they incredibly fragrant? Kay Parris is supposed to be an even better cultivar, from what I've read, but am not finding good descriptions as to its fragrance. I know that cultivars sometimes lose the fragrance of their parents, so am hoping to find experiences with how these particular trees smell!

March 9, 2009 - Update I checked all magnolias - all except for Edith Bogue have burn on their leaves. The burn is not severe, however the winter has been colder and windier than normal. My magnolias normally lose leaves in the spring when new growth begins so I am not too concerned with springtime leaf dropping. The trees have burlap screens on the side where the Sun would normally shine on them in the afternoon and the burlap is on the side that the winds normally come from. I gently "wiggled" random buds on all Magnolias. A stiff rigid bud indicates winter kill and possible die back. All buds that I tested were flexible indicating that they survived to this point. I have done this last year so I am confident that they have survived the worst of this winter.

I have grown Magnolia grandiflora "Edith Bogue" successfully in Guelph Ontario for 3 years. Planted outdoors in moist clay loam , slightly above grade and acidified by pine bark, peat moss, humus mix as top dressing . Watered regularly in winter thaws with luke warm water to keep surface roots drawing moisture for leaves ( to mitigate wind desiccation/ winter sunburn ) Flowered 3rd year after planting. Now 9ft high ( 8-12 inches /year) . Growing well this spring (2014) after extraordinarily cold winter down to negative 34C for several nights in January/February. Some leaf dessication this year (first time since planted, probably because of very cold winter)) and 25% leaf burn from spring sun (possibly due to late soil thaw this year as sun got stronger), but these leaves will drop anyway as a matter of course to be replaced by new leaves by June 1. New leaf buds already swelling. Also successfully growing Magnolia asheii, Magnolia virginiana "Porcelain Dove ( amazing plant), 2 hardy crape myrtles, 5 hardy camellias, stewartia and franklinia alamataha amongst other rare/ endangered / and zone pushers. All doing well.

Joseph Hickman, a well-respected attorney (now deceased) formed his own club of hardy southern magnolia fanciers. His collection of magnolia grandiflora and american Holly still is in Benton, Illinois. In his opinion Brackens was the hardiest. I have done numerous google searches and found many are growing it west of Chicago. Many years ago Dr. Dirr did an article on testing the limits of southern magnolia in the Horticulture magazine in March of 1992. He did a very scientific study and rated some of the hardiest magnolia grandliflora known. In my modest collection I have Edith Bogue, Twenty Four Below, Victoria, Poconos and I had a nursery in Tennessee to root some cuttings from the most exposed of locations that fared the best in winter of the late 70`s here. If everyone was contented with the plants as they were originally where would we be today. People like Mrs. Meservae I`m told wasn`t contented with what she hollies she could grow. With very limited knowledge of genetics, she still made quite a contribution to plant lovers everywhere with the blue hollies rugose/Chinese hollies and rugose and English Holly. I don`t think one should stake their livelihood on growing plants of marginal hardiness, but pushing the limits benefits us all. By the way there are also evergreen forms of magnolia virginiana. I`m experimenting with Henry Hicks Pat McCracken has it as one of his goals to find or create selections of magnolia grandiflora for Zone 4.