Magnolia Fruit »Not edible, but useful

Magnolia has impressive fruits

With the fruits of the magnolia they are so-called follicles, a form of seed encapsulation that emerged very early in evolution. The shape of the magnolia fruits is very similar to a pine cone and, depending on the variety, is usually surrounded by brown to red flesh. When the seeds ripen, the fruit opensso that the kernels, held only by a thin thread, can be clearly seen. In their countries of origin, the seeds are eaten by birds, which they contribute to the further spread of the magnolia. Since the magnolia on the whole, however as toxic to humans it is not advisable to consume the fruit - this will most likely result in painful cramps.

Gaining seeds and propagating magnolia

Nevertheless, you can use the magnolia fruits, namely for seed production and thus for Multiplication of the magnolia. However, this only works with single-variety specimens, with crosses and hybrids the result is uncertain. In contrast to propagation by offshoots or offspring raised from seed by mossing do not display the same genetic characteristics as the offspring Mother plant, therefore a completely different species can emerge from the seed when crossing adult. Go at the

Pulling the magnolia from a seed as follows:

• Harvest the ripe seeds.
• Soak them in lukewarm water for several days.
• Change this daily.
• Then rinse off the remaining pulp and rub off the reddish skin.
• Now the actual black seed appears.
• You pack this with damp sand in an airtight, sealable can.
• Keep it in your fridge's freezer for the winter.
• In the spring, fill a small flower pot with peaty soil.
• Put the seed core in there and cover it with soil about a finger's width.
• Keep the soil nice and moist.
• Have a lot of patience.

When and if the seeds germinate at all, however, 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 don't lose heart, it's best to plant several seeds and always water them nicely.

Tips & Tricks

Both the fruits and the seeds of the magnolia are wonderfully suitable for an autumn decoration, for example in a container.