MSI ISSUE 91 DRAFT

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Issue 91

Developing instant magnolias

Vance Hooper, Vanplant Nursery and Magnolia Grove Holdings It has been a few years since I have discussed the breeding work we are doing at Magnolia Grove. With something like 2000 or more seedlings in the program, some as old as seven years, there are some interesting observations to be made about the so-called instant magnolias; that is, those that are quick to bloom after a cross is made. When the previous work done at Duncan and Davies starting in 1987 is added to the mix, there is a broad base of material to observe. Some of those crosses resulted in Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’, named after my mother (M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x M. ‘Bernie Hollard’), M. ‘Shirazz’ (M. denudata x M. ‘Vulcan’), M. ‘Touch of Class’ (M. ×soulangeana ‘San Jose’ x M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’) and M. ‘Advance’ (M. ×soulangiana ‘Burgundy’ x M. ‘Vulcan’). One of the better seedlings I raised at Duncan and Davies was M. ‘Old Port’(M. ×soulangeana 'Sweet Simplicity’ x M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’).

Magnolia 'Genie' is an early bloomer with a deep color

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Right from the early crosses, using Magnolia ×soulangeana ‘Sweet Simplicity’ as a parent has paid dividends. M. ×s. ‘Sweet Simplicity’, which displayed an elegant and sharp form with better-than-average color, was selected as a seedling flowering under desperate growing conditions. Such an easy flowering parent has produced many progeny with a similar eagerness to flower. From the earliest crosses in this line to now, I am evaluating the flowers of 4th generation seedlings. This has been achieved over 22 years, in spite of the magnolia passion being put aside for three years or so in the middle of that time span.


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MSI ISSUE 91 DRAFT by Aaron Schettler - Issuu