I recently dug and potted two Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) seedlings found in the forest down slope from the large magnolia that shaded the side garden until it fell in a summer storm a year ago. There are two other seedlings that will be left in place. One is not far from where the roots and a ten foot section of the trunk of the parent remain. At the forest’s edge, this is the tallest of the seedlings, and possibly, it could be left in place.

Identifying the magnolia seedlings was easy. There’s no other tree with leaves this large, though the seedlings’ leaves are a third smaller than the parent magnolia’s. Curiously, with a small fraction of the roots intact, the fallen magnolia has refused to die. Three branches have grown, with leaves to thirty-two inches, before all turned prematurely yellow and dropped a few weeks ago.

Why pot up the seedlings? The bigleaf magnolia grows natively in the understory in the lower Southeastern states, so it would grow in the forest, but two others in more visible locations are enough. The two potted trees will be rooted in the container, then be available to our sons if they should dare plant such a large tree in their small gardens. I often offer plants I’ve potted to visitors to the garden, but it’s most likely these will be contributed (along with other plants) to the high school horticulture department plant sale where I volunteer.

Years ago, I was delighted to find the bigleaf magnolia at a nursery in Tennessee. While I’m saddened by its loss, I’m happy to watch the seedlings grow, and perhaps someone will be thrilled to watch their seedling grow.