I live in Columbus, OH and I cannot find one bigger than 6'. I have found bigger ones over 10' online in Texas and Tennessee but they are wholesalers and won't ship to me. Where in Ohio can I get one over 10' and can I order someplace online that will ship me one?

Little gem was another I was interested in.

Answer #3 · Doug Hansen's Answer · Hey Gary- I'm Doug, the manager here at Wilson Bros. I've made a few calls to North Carolina about the magnolia, and I'm waiting on a call back. What I'm finding are Balled and Burlaped. I dont know if you are familiar with that term but the trees have been growing in the ground and then are dug up by a large spade and the root is wrapped in burlap and put into a wire cage. Trees sold this way are usually heavy and come with different size rootballs. One place said they could deliver to your home but you would have to unload the tree and usually that means having a tractor or bobcat. The cost of delivery would be high I would think. But as I said earlier, I'm waiting for a call back. Please let me know if a B&B is even an option for you. Thanks,Doug)

Answer #2 · Gary Thompson's Answer · Thanks for your response. I have tried everyplace around here and no one stocks or can get any bigger than 5-6', and the tree is quite sparse and shrubby at that age/size, more importantly than the height. I have tried Oakland and Acorn is all wholesale, but they said they don't even have one bigger when I said i have a friend who has a tree farm that could order for me. I would need a30-45 gallon size-the 5-6 footers are in 15 gal. The ones I have seen online over 10' are 30-45 gal. All they seem to have around here is Brackens Brown Beauty. I don't care much for that tree since it looks like a big shrubby Christmas tree and prefer Edith becasue it flowers throughout the summer vs being done early summer like Brackens. Flowers are much bigger also. Edith Bogue is supposedly one of the hardiest down to -20F and originated in New Jersey. people grow it in New England. I have seen it rated down to zone 4 -5, actually, depending on where you read, but Ohio is in zone 6 with global warming. We are borderline 6 in my area but I have a very sheltered area in my backyard, where it would be shielded from the wind with a bunch of white pines, a wall of arborvitaes, my neighbors' houses, and kind of an L of my house where our Den jets out-so near the house and protected all sides. I orginally was looking at Little Gem, becasue I had read it was rated down to zone 4 but there is a whole lot of conflicting info about cold hardiness and zones from different sources. Ideally, I'd like to find a nursery in Ohio that has these trees or someplace down south that could piggy back one along with other shipments to retail locations. i just have no idea how to arrange something like that.)

Answer #1 · John Heider's Answer · Gary-I would assume the size magnolia you are looking for would be a 15 gal. or box size tree. This could be quite expensive to ship from some distance. Oakland Nursery in Columbus has 4 locations with many services including a landscape service which can acquire larger trees when needed. They also own a tree and shrub wholesale growing facility that looks to be quite large (Acorn Farms). I would think they may have or be able to locate the Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia for you.

I also read that the winters in Ohio, when coupled with drying wind, can negatively affect the ability of the Edith Bogue to survive. It is rated hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 6 through 9. The warmer the winter, the better the Edith Bogue Southern magnolia endures over the years. The Edith Bogue Southern magnolia grows best in southeastern Ohio, but it can be grown successfully throughout the state. This magnolia will attain the most size if planted in a wind-sheltered area and in a slightly warmer area such as on the southeastern side of a building.

Hope this helps find your trees - John)