After flowering, the magnolia develops pod-like, brown or red fruits that look not unlike a pine cone when ripe. As soon as the pods burst open, the seeds are ripe and can be removed for propagation. The magnolia fruits can also be used wonderfully as autumnal decorations. However, they are not edible.
Are the fruits of a magnolia edible?
The fruits of the magnolia are poisonous to humans and therefore not edible. However, they serve as food for many birds and can be used to propagate the plant or be used as an autumnal decoration.
Botanical characteristics of the magnolia fruit
Magnolia fruits represent a very early, fascinating stage of evolution. These are so-called follicle fruits, which are also known as opening or scattered fruits. They owe this name to their ability to open when ripe - just like a pine cone - and allow the seeds to emerge. The fruits are surrounded by a fleshy, reddish pericarp, and the ripe seeds are also colored red. Magnolia fruits represent another wonderful splash of color in autumnal nature. The seeds are not unlike flat chestnuts and remain connected to the fruit shell with a connecting thread.
Magnolia fruits are not edible
The fruits of the magnolia are considered poisonous to humans and are therefore not edible. However, their seeds serve as food for many birds, although acceptance among local wild birds is probably rather low. The magnolia is an exotic tree and is therefore unlikely to be recognized as a possible food source. In other parts of the world, however, magnolias are spread primarily via birds.
Growing new magnolias from seeds
You can grow new magnolias yourself from the ripe magnolia seeds, although you need a good deal of patience. Magnolias are cold germinators, i.e. H. the seeds cannot be planted immediately. First of all, they must be stratified in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for a few months, packed airtight in moist sand. To keep the seeds germinating for as long as possible, place them in lukewarm water after removing them from the fruit. Then carefully remove the red pulp so that only the black seeds remain. After stratification you can plant the seeds:
- Pour some loose, peaty substrate into clay flower pots.
- Put the seeds there and cover them with soil.
- The layer of soil should be about as high as the seed core itself.
- Water the soil and keep it well moist.
Now it's time to wait, because the germination time of the young magnolia plants differs greatly from one another. Some germinate very quickly, while others take several months. However, the germination rate of magnolia seeds is generally very poor.
Tips & Tricks
It is much easier and also more successful to propagate magnolias using subsoilers or by removing moss.
