How to Grow and Care for Cucumber Magnolia

Magnolia acuminata

When the primary true flower bloomed, some 140 million years in the past, scientists counsel it regarded a bit like that of the cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata).

This entire genus of luxurious timber has been round since dinosaurs roamed the Earth and ferns dominated the botanical roost.

We hyperlink to distributors that will help you discover related merchandise. In case you purchase from considered one of our hyperlinks, we might earn a fee.

Encountering considered one of these hulking remnants of the previous feels somewhat like stepping via a time portal.

It’s particularly unusual while you discover one rising subsequent to the oaks and ashes typical of forests in northeastern America at present.

The cucumber magnolia, also referred to as the cucumber tree or cucumbertree, has a comparatively broad vary throughout japanese North America, spanning from southern Canada to Georgia.

It’s primarily concentrated and grows largest within the Appalachians.

Learn on to search out out extra about rising this spectacular native tree. Right here’s what I’ll cowl:

The frequent title of this imposing tree comes from its knobbly, two- to three-inch-long fruits that are formed considerably like a cucumber.

Ultimately turning reddish pink and splitting open to disclose shiny, orange seeds, the fruits are nearly as engaging because the flowers.

The flowers of cucumber magnolia emerge in late spring and the pale, creamy white or yellow petals span as much as 4 inches in diameter.

Barely fragrant, the flowers are pollinated by beetles and are receptive for under a brief time period.

The fruit is loved by quite a lot of wildlife, together with grackles, blue jays and squirrels. Consequently, cucumber magnolia seedlings are fairly exhausting to search out of their pure habitat.

Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, cucumber magnolia might be grown in all kinds of climatic zones.

Organically-rich, nicely drained, moist, deep soils are the popular substrate for cucumber magnolia, although it may well develop in sandy loams, clay soils, and coarse textured loams so long as moisture is pretty constant.

Historically, tea made out of the bark of those timber was used to deal with every part from congestion, toothaches, constipation, and malaria.

Early settlers steeped the fruits in whiskey to impart a barely fruity taste to their beverage.

The contributions of M. acuminata to horticulture have been excellent.

The way to Develop

One of many few magnolias that can be utilized as a shade tree, M. acuminata is a superb alternative for a park setting or a protracted, rolling garden.

The large flowers and vibrant fruits will appeal to quite a lot of wildlife.

In case you lack the house to develop this species out within the open, it’s an exquisite, typically neglected alternative for a woodland setting or wildlife backyard.

Suited to each full solar and half shade it may be tucked right into a nook of the backyard with first rate, however not perpetual, solar and nonetheless placed on a satisfying show.

Soil

The optimum spot for M. acuminata could have deep, unfastened, wealthy loam that’s additionally well-draining.

Mild

In full solar, the pyramidal crown of leaves will actually department out. Better of all, within the spring, every department shall be filled with pale, creamy blossoms.

Cucumber magnolia is a forest tree and offered it isn’t overshadowed as a sapling, it may well and can develop on the sting of a woodland or in {a partially} shaded yard.

Safety

Like most magnolias, this species has comparatively weak wooden that’s susceptible to interrupt in excessive winds.

Take into account this while you select a planting website and ensure it’s someplace with an honest quantity of safety from any storms which will blow your means.

Water

Ensure to water nicely throughout any dry spells. Though this species is thought for its intensive root system, it has reasonably excessive water wants and can endure with out common rainfall or irrigation.

Pruning

You don’t have to prune your cucumber magnolia. Be at liberty to take out useless wooden or any branches which will break, however past that, magnolias actually favor to be left alone.

Cultivars to Choose

It’s comparatively uncommon to search out this tree at your run of the mill nursery, however backyard facilities specializing in natives ought to carry it.

Cucumber Magnolia

Yow will discover the species plant obtainable from Nature Hills Nursery.

There are quite a few, jaw droppingly lovely cultivars and hybrids as nicely. Some are wildly standard and broadly obtainable, others much less so.

Many cultivars have flowers that seem earlier than the leaves. This makes their flowers prone to frost.

In case you dwell in a northern or excessive elevation area, I extremely advocate buying the straight species, or a cultivar that has late rising flowers, to keep away from springtime disappointment.

Elizabeth

‘Elizabeth’ grows as much as 50 toes excessive and 35 toes large. Boasting lovely pale yellow flowers that emerge simply as its leaves are unfurling, this cultivar is hardy in Zones 4 to eight.

‘Elizabeth’

Yow will discover ‘Elizabeth’ crops obtainable at Nature Hills Nursery.

Butterflies

‘Butterflies’ is a hybrid that grows as much as 20 toes tall and 18 toes large. Deep yellow flowers seem in spring earlier than the leaves emerge.

‘Butterflies’

This one is hardy in Zones 5 to 7 and you’ll find crops obtainable at Quick Rising Timber.

Goldfinch

A really large, rotund tree, ‘Goldfinch’ boasts essentially the most lovely, creamy yellow flowers that emerge earlier than the leaves.

Hardy in USDA Zones 4 to eight, this cultivar grows 40 toes excessive and 40 toes large.

Yellow Chook

‘Yellow Chook’ blooms somewhat later than some cultivars in the marketplace.

It’s hardy in Zones 4 to eight, produces plentiful, pale yellow, upright flowers, and grows to 40 toes excessive and 25 toes large.

Propagation

M. acuminata might be grown from seed, stem cuttings, or planted as a sapling.

Though they’re somewhat finicky as seedlings and younger timber, as soon as established, they’re a low upkeep addition to the panorama. 

From Seed

Beginning M. acuminata from seed is just not notably simple. For that cause, chances are you’ll battle to search out seed on the market.

In case you see a specimen at a botanical backyard, a neighbor’s home or, better of all, out within the woods, you possibly can actually gather a handful of your individual seed and provides it a go.

They’re often prepared for assortment across the finish of August. The brilliant orange seeds dangle from slender filaments after they slip from their protecting coating.

Whenever you see the seeds swinging within the wind, you’ll know they’re prepared to reap.

Whenever you’ve collected your seed, transfer shortly as these seeds don’t retailer nicely and in the event that they dry out, they will not be viable.

The seed then wants a interval of cold-stratification. This may be achieved by setting the seeds in moist sphagnum moss within the fridge for 3 months.

Within the spring, put together a number of four-inch pots stuffed with moisture-retentive, wealthy potting soil. Sow two seeds per pot, to account for doubtlessly poor germination, about an inch deep.

Cowl with somewhat pine or pure wooden mulch and begin the countdown. Germination can take as much as 60 days.

Germination requires spring-like situations, with temperatures fluctuating between 60 to 80F, and many vibrant, oblique gentle.

Don’t disturb your containers because the seedlings start to emerge, and preserve the soil moist, however not soaking moist.

When your seedlings attain just a few inches tall you possibly can transfer them into an appropriate, ready location within the backyard.

Not like some magnolias, this species transplants nicely and grows roots quickly.

You possibly can be taught extra about beginning magnolias from seed right here.

From Cuttings

M. acuminata will also be grown from softwood cuttings taken in the summertime.

Put together a number of deep pots, filling with a mix of equal components peat, potting soil, and sand. Ensure the substrate is moist all through, however not soaking.

Use a pointy pair of pruners to chop a six-inch size from the rising tip of a wholesome department.

Attempt to choose a straight piece and ensure it’s versatile softwood of present 12 months’s progress. Take away the leaves on the decrease half of the slicing.

Utilizing a pencil or stick, poke holes into the soil of your ready pots. Dip the underside two inches of the cuttings in rooting hormone.

Maintain the soil evenly moist and don’t enable it to dry out. Rooting ought to occur in about six to eight weeks. By summer time’s finish, they are going to be prepared for transplanting.

Transplanting

Magnolia saplings usually favor to be transplanted within the spring, not fall.

Amend your soil with some well-rotted compost and dig a gap deep sufficient in order that the basis ball is even with the extent of soil.

Attempt to not disturb the roots an excessive amount of while you take away the plant from its pot.

Set your tree within the gap and backfill with soil, then water in nicely.

Managing Pests and Illness

M. acuminata is fairly robust and isn’t usually affected by pests or illness. Burdened specimens could also be extra prone.

There are just a few points to maintain an eye fixed out for:

Herbivores

Deer will sometimes browse the foliage of younger cucumber timber, though it’s not considered one of their favorites.

Defend younger timber inside a cage of rooster wire to maintain these ungulates away.

Bugs

As a local North American tree, there are a glut of bugs that depend on cucumber magnolia for nectar and pollen.

Comparatively few really trigger issues. Maintain your eyes peeled for these ones:

Aphids

These well-known pests are sapsuckers that trigger quite a lot of issues in cucumber magnolias together with curling leaves, untimely leaf drop, and stunted progress.

To learn extra about this frequent backyard pest try our information to controlling aphids.

Magnolia Scale

Among the many largest mushy scale bugs in North America, magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum) can develop as much as half an inch lengthy.

They’re blob-shaped, pale coloured, mushy, puffy, and might be discovered alongside younger twigs and branches.

The tiny crawlers, or younger, hatch in July and August and appear like little darkish dots that may creep and crawl throughout your unsuspecting magnolia’s bark.

Magnolia scale feeds totally on mushy progress. On affected branches chances are you’ll discover twig dieback, curling foliage, lowered flower manufacturing, and untimely leaf drop.

Early intervention will assist handle scale infestations earlier than they vary uncontrolled.

Examine your timber commonly through the rising season, intently analyzing mushy new tissue similar to buds and softwood and scrape off the bugs with a rag dipped in soapy water.

Our information to coping with scale has extra info.

Yellow Poplar Weevil

Also called magnolia weevils, Odontopus calceatus are little black beetles about an eighth of an inch lengthy.

Each the adults and their larvae feed on the foliage of magnolia timber, inflicting tiny rice formed blotches on the leaves.

Sometimes, heavy feeding will induce a untimely leaf drop in July.

These pests very not often have an effect on the long run well being of M. acuminata.

Illness

There are few ailments that may have an effect on this tenacious magnolia. Listed here are just a few to pay attention to:

Canker

A standard illness affecting many timber, canker is a fungal an infection that’s usually solely problematic on cucumber magnolia in moist websites.

The fungus (Nectria galligena) causes sunken areas on the bark and branches and might ultimately develop to severely impede water and nutrient transport throughout the tree.

You could discover the fruiting our bodies of N. galligena producing spores on the website of a wound, or on the cankers themselves. They are usually extremely seen colours, like orange or purple.

Sadly, there’s no treatment for Nectria canker. To sluggish the unfold of the an infection, take away broken twigs about 4 to 6 inches under the canker utilizing pruners cleaned with rubbing alcohol.

As with all ailments, the easiest way to handle cankers is with good preventative care. Develop your tree in optimum situations so it’s wholesome and powerful.

Belle of the Forest

Typically handed over for its higher identified, showier cousins, cucumber tree excels in loads of methods: it’s largely pest and illness resistant, it thrives in woodland or backyard settings, and makes a wonderful shade tree.

Apart from, though the flowers will not be pink, purple, or as ostentatious as among the different magnolias, cucumber tree is reliably coated in blossoms come spring. What could possibly be higher than that?

Have you ever ever seen cucumber magnolia rising within the wild? The place did you see it? Have you ever tried rising this species in your panorama? Please inform us about your experiences within the feedback part under!

And to be taught extra about different varieties of magnolia, try these guides subsequent: