Few people know that magnolias not only develop beautiful, fragrant flowers, but also interesting-looking fruits.
Magnolia has impressive fruits
The fruits of the magnolia are so-called follicles, a form of seed encapsulation that developed very early in evolution. The shape of the magnolia fruit is very similar to that of a pine cone and, depending on the variety, is usually surrounded by brown to red flesh. When the seeds are ripe, the fruit opens so that the seeds, held by a thin thread, are clearly visible. In their countries of origin, the seeds are eaten by birds, which they contribute to the further spread of the magnolia. However, since the magnolia as a whole is considered poisonous to humans, it is not advisable to eat the fruit - this would most likely result in painful cramps.
Obtain seeds and propagate magnolia
Nevertheless, you can use the magnolia fruits, namely to obtain seeds and thus to propagate the magnolia. However, this only works with pure specimens, with crosses and hybrids the result is uncertain. In contrast to propagation by cuttings or mosses, offspring raised from seed do not have the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant, which is why a completely different species can suddenly grow from the seed when crossed. When growing magnolia from a seed, do the following:
- Harvest the mature seeds.
- Soak them in lukewarm water for several days.
- Change this daily.
- Then rinse off the remaining pulp and rub off the reddish shell.
- Now the actual, black seed appears.
- Pack this with moist sand in an airtight container.
- Keep it in the freezer of your fridge over the winter.
- In the spring, fill a small flower pot with peaty soil.
- Put the seed core in there and cover it with about a finger's width of soil.
- Keep the soil nice and moist.
- Have a lot of patience.
However, when and if the seed will germinate at all is a matter of luck. Magnolia seeds do not have a very high germination rate, and many seed kernels take an extremely long time to germinate. So do not lose heart, it is best to plant several seeds and always water them well.
tips and tricks
Both the fruit and the seeds of the magnolia are ideal for an autumnal decoration, for example in a container.