I'm from the Milwaukee area. I planted a southern magnolia 'Edith Bogue' in my front yard last April and it has done very well thus far -- just a little burn so far. I want to grab a bunch of larger Edith Bogues or Brackens Beauty this spring and stick them in my yard. Rather than get a little one via mail order again, I want to drive to a nursery that carries them and purchase them there.

I know the Stein Garden and Gifts stores carry Brackens Beauty up here, but they always look kinda gnarly and unkempt. I'm hoping to drive a nursery around Chicago that carries them. Lowes or Home Depot would work too if they got them.

Any help is appreciated!

If you shop the various locations you can find nice ones. Two years ago the Germantown location had multiple fine specimens.

You never know, they might have some nice ones this year.

you need to start calling the managers of high end nurseries .... and insuring that they are ordered in .... [and it might be too late for spring delivery]

you can not wait and hope that bigboxstore ships in a desired plant ...

that said.. there are actually magnolia collectors.. and hundreds of named varieties .. and i would suggest you look outside the box of buying more of the exact same ... and branch out a bit [get it???] ...

i am too sick to do it for you.. but you need to find the full latin name of EB ... and then search for other varieties w/in that family .. presuming a southern mag is fully hardy for Milwaukee .. cause Milwaukee is not in the south.. lol ... as you well know ...

but let me also warn you.. that smaller plants.. are cheaper ... transport easier.. 'establish' easier... and usually outgrow larger plants in the first 5 years ... so i would suggest that you NOT go too big ... unless budget and potential loss are simply not an issue ...

now by that.. i simply mean.. your best value might be somewhere in between a mail order turd.. and a 6 footer ... [especially if the 6 footer ends up root bound in a too small pot, and severely stressed by the whole operation ....]

size matters.. and in this case.. bigger is not necessarily better ... instant gratification for you.. most often does equate with a happy plant ...

you might call gee tree farm [ask for kary gee] .. and discuss what they might have .... the online catalog is not current ... but it might be worth a car trip just north of jackson MI.. to add to your collection ... the place will blow your mind ...

good luck

ken

ps: i just saw your other post.. you know what i am saying above .. consider it for others of less experience ....

Selections like 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' are like weeds around here - you could pick one up for a song (relatively speaking). Have your friend throw one in the back of an SUV or similar vehicle. Get as big a container plant as they can lift/fit, and then you'll even have all the roots to boot (no shock). Time it right, and you'll have it in bloom for your first summer - which'll likely be your last with it.

Are you holding your breath, too?

One mild winter does not a thriving broadleaf evergreen tree make.

I'm not saying to not try it. I'm just saying that you won't be able to bring it into your garage for too many winters. Enjoy your oversized annual, for however many years it may survive.

I am also saying that you can afford these very large annuals far better by buying them down here than by seeking out the very few pricey ones offered up there.

tj