Michelia Alba... anyone ever seen this??

10 years ago

Hi!

I have two Michelia Albas for a year now. One is struggling in part sun/part shade. To be more precise, her trunk is in the shade and upper body is in the sun. She does get more sun later in the spring/summer. Her sister who is in full sun is doing much better and starting to bloom again. So here she is...

Anyway, take a look at the pics and see what you think.

See the stigmas or pistils (or whatever you call them?). They are from last's year blooms... why are they still on the branches??

A closer look. Was I supposed to break them off after the flowers are spent?? I have them all over the tree and it's bugging me. LOL.

I searched all over the internet and no one mentioned these things or what to do with them. Anybody else have this problem? Should I leave them alone or cut them off??

Thank you!!
Lynn

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Comments (3)

kemistry
10 years ago
i see seeds! how awesome. I hear that M alba seeds are not viable but if yours does sprout, maybe you can get a new hyrid :) i am excited for you!
No-Clue
Original Author
10 years ago
Kemistry, they can't possibly be seeds! I mean I have them ALL over the tree on every single branch! Almost like every single flower I had kept this thing! So leave them and see which ones will form into a seed pod?

The sister tree on the shady side did not however kept and of this pistils/stigmas thing.

Talking about seeds. I got three giant seed pods growing on my Madagascar Jasmine Vine. I don't want them... so should I just chop chop?
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Dar Sunset Zone 18
10 years ago
I get those sometimes and let them be while hoping for a seed pod to form.

They stay on because of self pollination though dont fully form because Michelia alba is a sterile offspring between two species (like a mule). The seed pods will abort after several months however there is always some exceptions to life. Some mature specimens will occasionally produce fully formed seeds but I dont know if they have ever been sprouted successfully. Leaving them on doesn't seem to be detrimental from my observation.

I assume that these seeds (if viable) may display some unique characteristics but I have yet to hear of any F2 cultivars produced from Michelia alba.