Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to three native magnolia species? 

These ancient flowering plants are known for their large flowers that originally evolved before most of the pollinating insects we see today.

Umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) starting to flower at Croydon Woods Nature Preserve

Heritage Conservancy owns and manages Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, which is home to two of Pennsylvania’s three native magnolia species. The umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) are threatened in the state of Pennsylvania. Both species are more common further south and the sweetbay magnolia is more likely found along the coast.

Native magnolia species support a large diversity of wildlife with their large flowers that provide resources for pollinators and red fruits that are consumed by birds before they migrate south for the winter.

Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) flowers attract pollinators in spring and fruits that feed birds in the fall

What can we do?

Heritage Conservancy’s Senior Conservation Biologist Tyler Kovacs has a passion for growing native plants for restoration and saw an opportunity to help some of his favorite species in Pennsylvania. During his first year at Heritage Conservancy, Tyler collected the seeds from both magnolia species with the help of summer conservation interns.

During the following year he grew those seeds in a new native plant nursery at the Russell-Mandel Preserve, also owned by Heritage Conservancy.

This year, these magnolia seedlings were large enough to be planted back at Croydon Woods Nature Preserve. Interns and volunteers helped plant dozens of these seedlings throughout the preserve to help their population and make sure this species continues to thrive on the property.

A sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) seedling that was planted and protected from deer browse.

So why did we use locally sourced seeds that take so long to grow instead of buying mature trees? 

The seeds that were collected from the preserve have genetics that make them best suited to the local environment. They have been growing there for a long time, slowly adapting to the local climate, soil, and water sources.

These local genetics are best to use for a restoration project like this, rather than buying trees that may not be well adapted to the local environment. This creates a healthier, more durable population at Croydon Woods with locally adapted seedlings to increase the chances for successful restoration of these species in Pennsylvania.