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| Another germination project is underway. One of our big-leaf magnolias successfully produced fruit this year, so we have seeds to plant! Big-leaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) is native to Louisiana, and it's a tree with a very interesting appearance, but perhaps too delicate for widespread plantings. |
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The productive big-leaf magnolia is pictured center. The slight trunk is barely visible. We primarily see the large, floppy leaves extending from the tips of slender branches. Centenary student Bonnie Bernard germinated this tree in 2012; it was planted in the arboretum the following year. That'll make it 14 years old by the end of the year. We have seen flowers in previous years, but this is our first year to collect seeds. You can read more about it and see some older photos in this previous post. |
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| The red, egg-shaped fruit was spied during the summer. (photo: 8/22/26) |
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| Approximately a month later, we now have fully visible seeds. The seeds were popping out of the cone when the branch was jostled for this photo. |
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| The slender tree branches are flexible. A ladder wasn't needed to collect the fruit, but it was nice to have someone hold the leaves down so that the fruit could be snipped. |
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| These orangish-red seeds are ready for dispersal. |
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| Magnolia macrophylla seeds collected September 2026 |
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| 34 seeds were collected, some of which are noticeably discolored. We aren't sure about the quality of the seeds collected―the dark spots and brownish coloration suggest that the seeds might be defective―but they will all be given a chance to germinate. |
