Germination Project: Pyramid Magnolia

The Centenary College Arboretum is participating in a pyramid magnolia germination project organized by an international team, the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia, headed by the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Your arboretum curator has taken on custody of 15 seeds collected from pyramid magnolias (Magnolia pyramidata) growing in east Texas. The seeds were initially collected in August by a group working out of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. In September, we at the Centenary College arboretum agreed to join the germination effort. Our 15 seeds arrived at the campus post office on February 17th, and we potted them the following day. The Seed Propagation Protocol forwarded by the Consortium tells us that seeds from a 2025 germination project had a high germination rate and sprouted, on average, 53 days after sown. Consequently we can expect seedlings to pop up around April 12th. 

We received a total of 15 seeds, separated into three different bags. Each bag was marked with a number.  

 

In one bag, we received 6 seeds, pictured in the above photo, with an identifying number: SB-20250563. We also received two additional bags, one with 4 seeds and another with 5 seeds. 

Each seed has its own 3-inch pot to call home.

 

Seeds measure ¼ inch in length.

 

Our 15 pots are organized in three groups. We are hoping for 15 seedlings!

You can find more information about the project organizers by following these links:

The Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia 

Atlanta Botanical Garden 

Osage Orange; Bois D'arc (Maclura pomifera)

As the bois d'arc is a dioecious tree, the arboretum catalogue is somewhat incomplete. The specimen we currently possess is male, and while males are certainly necessary to perpetuate the survival of the species, we get no fruit from them. The unique green fruit is the most noteworthy feature of this species, something that we would like to show to the Aboretum's guests.

After last winter's ice storm, the arboretum curator discovered a decrepit, sad-looking bois d'arc on a fenceline in Caddo parish, just north of Shreveport. Surrounded by a grove of invasive bamboo, next to an impromptu trash dump, and near an unfriendly pack of local canines, this tree has been lost to the knowledge of mankind for decades. Its presence on a property line is fairly good evidence that it was intentionally planted there. The arboretum curator only recognized the tree as a bois d'arc due to the presence on the ground of a solitary green fruit. Considering the extensive rot and overall poor state of this tree, that may be the last fruit it ever produces. 

Two to three months of cold winter temperatures are necessary for the germination of bois d'arc seeds. We definitely had such temperatures this year. After being collected, the fruit was tossed onto the ground outside, where it sat for the duration of January, February, and March. By the end of March, the fruit was black-and-brown, soggy, and infested with a variety of nasty critters. The seeds were painstakingly extracted with a knife and a pair of tweezers, yielding approximately 100, with an estimated half that number being left behind. This was a messy job. The seeds were washed and allowed to dry, then placed in a bowl of rainwater to set for about a week. After this, they were planted five to a container in potting mix. A couple weeks later with temperatures rising, young bois d'arcs are beginning to push up through the potting mix! We are pleased to see that the old tree has produced viable seed. Providence willing, these specimens will become part of the arboretum collection.

We have a flat of seedlings. About five seeds are sprouting per day.

Here we can see one larger sprout and another which still has the seed coat attached, still covering the cotyledon.

The bois d'arc is pictured center. Almost every visible leaf is from poison ivy or another vine.

Here we can see a few sprouts coming off the trunk, a feeble last attempt to get ahold of some sunlight. The bamboo is winning.

From this side, we have a better look at the trunk and its branches. The tree was able to grow in this location long enough to develop a thick trunk. Unfortunately, it appears that the bambo has outcompeted it in recent years, but, luckily, we found one of its fruits and have thus far had success in our germination project.

Tree of the Week: Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

This past October the red buckeyes (Aesculus pavia) produced an impressively large crop of fruits. You can see a few sample photos here. The handsome seeds called out for attention. Rather than allowing them to litter the ground, a simple, low-budget germination project was undertaken.

The first, and most difficult, step in the project was to select the germination locations. All of our established red buckeyes grow in partial to heavy shade, which results in plenty of beautiful spring flowers and an open form. Since this species is known to adopt a different form in sunny growing conditions, a full sun location was desired in order to showcase the range of the species. The grassy slope on the north side of Cline Hall was selected for its openness. Eight individual spots, spread out from one another, were chosen: two spots are in full sun and the remaining six are positioned in partial sun.

After the locations were selected, the rest of the project went quickly. Shallow holes were dug. Approximately four, freshly collected seeds, in perfect condition, were dropped into each hole and then covered with a mixture of rich, dark soil and coarsely mulched leaves. After the seeds were covered, the ground was lightly stamped and then watered thoroughly. The holes were not allowed to get too dry, which meant that, due to the lack of rain, the holes were watered two additional times. Today, in the first week of January, six out of the eight spots have at least one seedling.

Red buckeye seeds were collected and planted at the beginning of November. The seedlings started to pop up in late December.

Red buckeye seedling (January 3, 2020)

Red buckeye seedling (January 3, 2020)