Loebner Magnolia Seeds

Kobus and Loebner Mixture of Species and Species Hybrids

Loebner magnolia is a natural hybrid of star and kobus magnolias. Its vigor and adaptibility to less than ideal conditions makes this a durable and popular landscape selection in the north. Kobus magnolia is a Japanese magnolia and along with the Star Magnolia Magnolia stellata they naturally hybridize and create some very vigorous seed strains.  It was first discovered prior to World War I in Germany of garden origin which was part of the Saucer magnolia hybrids. Since then many seedlings have been named and found as hybrids with Magnolia kobus which is more of a forest tree. 

My goal was to create a hedgerow of the most vigorous hybrids on a sandy wind swept hill. I was able to select about 20 plants of which 15 or so produce seeds today. This was the most vigorous seedlings from over a thousand seedlings which led to heavy flowering, fruiting and seed production in the years ahead. Plants can be grown from seed with this hybrid selection to produce a hybrid seedling population. Trees are usually pyramidal in shape with strong thick branching. Today I use these trees for creating the seed mixture sold here. 

From seed, this is a good cross to produce healthy vigorous seedlings and even to make cultivar selections from into Zone 3.

2025 Seeds: Include mostly forest type Kobus seeds along with some Loebner and Stellata forms near a Loebner tree. All were originally selected from seedlings because they were the most vigorous in the grow outs I was doing at the time. The Kobus tree is at least 40 ft. tall and going strong. Seeds were floated along with cut tests to insure the highest quality. It is difficult getting good quality seed as it tends to dry and is not usually cared for properly by those who sell seeds on the open market. It also decays quickly when dried and cannot be resusitated by soaking. The embryo should be a bright white color when you cut the seeds. 

To germinate the seeds: Seeds have a hard brittle seed coat and only require a cold dormancy of 90-120 days. The seeds need to be kept moist otherwise they will perish. The seed is then refrigerator to prevent mold. Magnolia seed can be sown as it after the dormancy or you can pot each seedling. Cover lightly with 1/4 inch peat. Seeds will produce a tap root first and then throw a top. Very easy to grow from seed.  You just need to add lightly moist peat moss to the mixture of seeds. Dormancy started on January 1st.