michelia yunnanensis seeds

[annika]

Hi,
does anyone know how to treat these seeds?
Annika

[Maggi Young]

Hi, Annika,
Welcome to the Forum!
I think that these are seeds which need a prolonged (one year plus) period of cold to germinate and are then slow to  grow on, which is why it is usual to propogate this species by cuttings or air-layering.
This is what I have read on the matter.... I am sure that others here will have  more direct experience than I do. 
 I would certainly wish you good luck in germinating and growing this  pretty tree.

See these pages for a picture, for those of you who don't know the plant....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=429.msg12255#msg12255

and
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1763.msg44407#msg44407  ... for Michelia doltsopa

[Onion]

Hi Annika,

the genus Michelia belongs to the Magnoliaceae. Are the seeds covered with an orange substance? Then throw the seeds in water, after a week remove the orange substance from the seed. Dry the seed some hours. Put them in a glass with moist sand and give this glass in the fridge. When you have frost free conditions in spring, sow them a medium (Like John Inns) and cover with 0,5 cm of the medium. Will germinate in four weeks.

[johnw]

Annika - Michelia yunnanesis is now Magnolia laevifolia, it's unfortunate that the species name has been lost to the taxonomists. I'll never get used to the new name.

The seed should be thoroughly cleaned of the red-orange pulp by soaking in water for 5 days as Uli mentioned.  Then the seeds will slip out easily.  I then wash the seed in soapy water to remove the germination inhibiting oils, then rinse them in warm water.  I place them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator at 2-5c with some barely damp sphagnum moss so they don't dry out.   They say most magnolias need a minimum of 90 days of this cold treatment (longer is okay but plant right away if you see roots emerging), subtropicals need only 30 days.  Is M. laevifolia subtropical - maybe not?  Best then to go for 90 days and then sow warm and don't overpot, transplant when they are well established and are growing quickly.

It's a beauty that sets lots of buds and has great fragrance.

johnw

[Gerdk]

I found Magnolia dianica for this Michelia -

Uli - is this evergreen species hardy here in USDA zone 7 b?

Is there a German nursery which sells it?

Gerd

[johnw]

I found Magnolia dianica for this Michelia -

Uli - is this evergreen species hardy here in USDA zone 7 b?

Gerd

Gerd - I'm at work so I don't have The Plantsman nearby to check what Dick Figlar says about M. dianica, he helped with the revisions to Magnolia and wrote the article recently.

He did answer a query about yunnanensis a month or more ago with this:  "This sounds like Magnolia laevifolia (Dianica Magnolia, formerly Michelia yunnanensis).  Heronswood mistakenly offered them under M. figo var. crassipes some years ago.  Here's an image.
 
Dick Figlar         Pickens SC"

I find on the internet at:

http://www.nlbif.nl/species_details.php?name=Magnolia+laevifolia

Name:
Magnolia laevifolia (Y.W.Law & Y.F.Wu) ined.
Rank:
Species
Status:
Accepted name
Synonyms:
Magnolia dianica Sima & Figlar
Michelia dandyi Hu
Michelia laevifolia Y.W.Law & Y.F.Wu
Michelia yunnanensis Franch. ex Finet & Gagnep.
Michelia yunnanensis var. angustifolia Finet & Gagnep.

Now I will have to see the Plantsman to find out the loss of M. dianica too.

I think I saw the old yunnanensis growing outside in Portland, Oregon, maybe it was figo.  Also reports of it in Seattle and hardy only to -7 to -9c.  So in the Pacific Northwest they may all have been killed to the ground or worse last winter.

johnw

 

[Gerdk]

Thank you John!

Gerd

[annika]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with me. I bought these seeds from white cloud seeds in spring, both m. doltsopa and yunnanensis. the seeds were all cleaned and in moist moss, so I planted them in pots at arrival inside and the doltsopa seeds only took 1 month to germinate, but none of the yunnanensis seeds have germinated (6 months) - so far, they have been outside since may. should I put them into the fridge then and wait until next spring?
Annika

[johnw]

Should I put them into the fridge then and wait until next spring?
Annika

You might check a seed by squeezing it. If it has rotted you will know. Otherwise put them in the fridge again (again in a plastic bag to prevent drying out) or in a cold room  - +1-5c and don't allow to dry out.

I was not able to sprout yunnanensis the one time I tried. It should be easy if the seeds have been handled properly.

johnw

[Onion]

I found Magnolia dianica for this Michelia -

Uli - is this evergreen species hardy here in USDA zone 7 b?

Is there a German nursery which sells it?

Gerd

Gerd,
I find this link to Magnolia dianica. It think it can be hardy in your area. Except the last winter 

http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/publications/newsletters/25-vol-10-no-2/25-vol-10-no-2-no-graphics.html

The best source I know here in Germany for Magnolias are

http://www.divaplant.de/

I only know two dutch nursery (Esveld and Zwijnenburg) witch sometimes offer Michelia's (Magnolias)

[Gerdk]

Uli,
Thank you for this helpful information!
It seems regarding hardiness this species is similar to Magnolia grandiflora which survives in my region.

Gerd

[Giles]

Mine is showing next Spring's flower buds.
They'll get bigger, and more furry nearer the time.