Description
Magnolia campbellii is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree growing to 30 m, rarely to 45 m, tall, with smooth grey bark. The leaves are 10–23 cm (rarely to 33 cm) long and 4.5–10 cm (rarely to 14 cm) broad, fuzzy underneath and with an acute apex. The flowers are very large, 15–25 cm (rarely 35 cm) diameter, with 12-16 tepals, which vary from white to dark pink. They appear very early, before the leaves, opening from late winter to early spring. After opening, the innermost tepals remain erect while the others spread widely. This arrangement may shelter the stamens and stigmas from rain, snow, and other harsh environmental conditions common during their very early flowering time period.
Hooker named the species after Archibald Campbell, Superintendent of Darjeeling.
Germination Guide
🌍 Eastern Nepal, Sikkim, Assam (India), southwestern China (Yunnan, southern Sichuan, southern Tibet), and northern Myanmar, at elevations of 2400-3500 meters in temperate mountain forests
Moderate
Magnolia campbellii, or Campbell's Magnolia, is a spectacular deciduous tree native to the Himalayan highlands, renowned for its extraordinary early-spring flowers that appear on bare branches in white to vivid rose-pink hues. Seeds exhibit morphophysiological dormancy requiring cold stratification to break dormancy and achieve optimal germination rates. This magnificent species is moderately challenging to propagate from seed but highly rewarding for patient gardeners.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
21 – 42 days
Temperature
Min 18°C
Ideal 21°C
Max 24°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
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💧
Soaking — 24 hours
Soak cleaned seeds in warm water for 24 hours to soften the outer seed coat (sarcotesta) before stratification, facilitating easier removal of the red fleshy aril
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❄️
Cold stratification — 120 days at 5°C
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📋
Additional notes
Seeds must be cleaned by removing the red fleshy aril coating. Cold stratification in moist vermiculite, peat, or sand at 1-5°C for 90-120 days is essential to overcome dormancy and achieve uniform germination. Keep substrate moist but not waterlogged. Check periodically for mold; rinse affected seeds if needed.
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Porous, light germination substrate such as peat mixture, vermiculite, or sphagnum moss combined with sand
Recommended container
Plastic container or seed tray with transparent lid and good drainage holes
Growing Tips
Remove the red fleshy aril by soaking seeds in warm water for 24 hours, then rubbing gently with a soft cloth or against window screening. Store cleaned seeds immediately in moist vermiculite or peat in the refrigerator at 1-5°C. After 90-120 days of stratification, sow seeds shallowly (approximately 1/4 inch deep) in warm substrate (18-24°C) with bright, indirect light. Maintain consistent soil moisture without waterlogging. Provide protection from direct sunlight during the first year of seedling growth. Germination typically occurs within 3-6 weeks after stratification. Young seedlings are delicate and require sheltered conditions with high humidity and moderate light.
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