User:Michael Ronayne/Edith Bogue Magnolia

The gardens of The House that Lives, is the home of the Edith Bogue Magnolia grandiflora. The Edit Bogue Magnolia is the first Magnolia grandiflora documented to survive outside it native temperature range and is recognized as the most cold tolerant Magnolia grandiflora cultivar know, continuing to set the standard by which cold tolerance in Magnolia grandiflora is measured. The Edith Bogue Magnolia is also an excellent rootstock for Magnolia grafts. In the summer of 2008, the Edith Bogue was 88 years old and in excellent health. Clones of the Edith Bogue Magnolia are widely distributed throughout the world and are available at most major garden centers in North America and Europe.

The Edith Bogue Magnolia originated as a seedling in Florida, from where it was sent to Miss Edith A. Bogue in New Jersey in 1920. After spending several years as a potted plant, the Edith Bogue Magnolia was transplanted to the gardens at 83 Watchung Avenue Montclair, New Jersey when it grew too large to be moved. Sometime in the 1950’s [verification required] it was propagated by a local nurseryman Harry Deverman of 1461 Van Houten Avenue Clifton, New Jersey, who had recognized that it had survived many severe winters unscathed by the elements and that it warranted propagation on this count alone. He named it in honor of the owner of the garden in which it was discovered. With the objective of verifying its hardiness at other locations, three plants were obtained for the magnolia collection of the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum, by its Director from 1959 to 1966 Dr. John M. Fogg Jr., who was also a founder of the National Magnolia Society. The Edith Bogue Magnolia lived up to its reputation by surviving several successively severe Philadelphia winters in the late 1970’s, the coldest being January 1977 which averaged 19.9°F (-6.7°C) for the month, with little damage. It is undoubtedly one of the hardiest of the selections of Magnolia grandiflora currently available as it is known to have survived a low temperature of -24°F (-31°C).

This cultivar is a relatively slow growing tree but has a capacity to exceed well over thirty feet with a rounded form at maturity. This is predominantly due to its maintenance of a strong, upright terminal leader which produces a tree with a symmetrical head. It has large glossy, dark green leaves, which have a fairly heavy brown tomentum on their under surfaces. The flowers are large and waxy white and are produced in profusion during the mid summer period.

Michael Ronayne (talk) 11:43, 24 August 2008 (UTC)