Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - November 02, 2011

From: windham, NH
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Propagation, Trees
Title: Propagating a Magnolia tree from a twig cutting in New Hampshire.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I have a twig cutting from a rare magnolia tree I found on a farm in central New Hampshire. The tree seems to be at least one hundred years old. It was in full bloom in late August and I was told by the owner that it blooms 3 to 4 times every season. It was twice the size of any magnolia I have seen in New England an the leaves and bark were very dark for a magnolia. The leaves were also about three times the size of the common saucer magnolias in this area. I would like to know if it is possible to propagate fro a cutting. I put my cutting in water for the last ten weeks. It has not sprouted any roots yet but it does seem to be sending something out from where the leaves eminate from.

ANSWER:

Generating plants from cuttings is a widely used method of plant propagation, but often involves more than merely sticking a twig in a jar of water. I’m including several links to sites about plant propagation to acquaint you with the various methods used, and to familiarize  you with the terminology.

   mastergardenproducts.com    

   North Carolina State University

   Washington State University Cooperative Extension

   Virginia Cooperative Extension       (note the caveat about rooting plants in water)

This link to southernliving.com  contains some good information about Magnolias in general.  Of particular interest is a list of large-leafed magnolias.

     Cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminatamore info      

     Bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla)

     Umbrella magnolia (M. tripetala)

     Fraser magnolia (M. fraseri)

      Ashe magnolia (M. ashei)

These are medium-size trees with huge leaves and large flowers that appear after the leaves unfurl.  This may help you identify the Magnolia you are working with.

Another source of help is the Rockingham County Office of the University of New Hampshire Coopererative Extension.

 

More Trees Questions

Problems with a two year old persimmon tree in Fredricksburg, TX.
May 22, 2013 - Hi Mr/Ms Smarty Plants, We planted a 4-ft Texas Persimmon, Diospyros texana, 2-years ago, with wonderful leaf and fruit production since. We recently had a hail storm (5/9/13) and although mos...
view the full question and answer

Need help identifying a tree with wintergreen-flavored bark that grew in my backyard during my youth in Cumberland, RI.
March 24, 2010 - Growing up in Cumberland, Rhode Island (a town in the northern part of the state) there was a tree in our backyard with thin, brown peel-able bark. The bark itself had white stripes. Under the layer o...
view the full question and answer

Fragrant tree found in Savannah
May 12, 2009 - I was in Savannah last weekend and as we were walking through one of the side streets we were hit with the fragrance of Lilac. I grew up around Lilac bushes but never expected a full in bloom single ...
view the full question and answer

Spacing of Trees near a House Foundation
June 18, 2015 - Can you recommend non-invasive shade tree that can be planted 6 to 7 feet from foundation. We are buying a new home in zone 8a and choices that are given are: Live Oak, Lacebark Elm, Cedar Elm, and B...
view the full question and answer

Caterpillars ate my Sophora in La Mesa, CA.
July 06, 2011 - Before I noticed what was happening, my newly-planted 1 foot tall Sophora secundiflora was eaten by caterpillars. It now has no foliage. Do you think it will leaf out again?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.