Does Pennsylvania Have the Right Hardiness Zone to Grow a Bracken's Brown Magnolia Tree?

USDA Zone 6

• USDA zone 6 in Pennsylvania covers the southwestern corner of the state and most of the southern half. The zone dips down in Pennsylvania in the south central regions, allowing zone 5 to divide the state as it extends well into West Virginia. The lowest temperatures to expect in zone 6 in winter are minus 10 degrees. Even though Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are farther north than Pennsylvania, zone 6 extends into these New England states because warmer ocean air, so Bracken's Brown Beauty grows there. It struggles to survive the winter in much of northern Pennsylvania.

Features

• Bracken's Brown Beauty is worth the effort of planting because it features dense foliage, attractive 6-inch wide, white flowers and reddish fruit attracting birds in the fall. The tree is a manageable size at between 20 and 30 feet tall with widths between 15 and 25 feet. Bracken's Brown Beauty possesses an oval or pyramidal crown. The tree takes its name from the rust-brown color on the undersides of its 7-inch long leaves.

Growing Conditions

• Plant Bracken's Brown Beauty magnolia where it gets some protection from winter winds. This tree has poor tolerance for wet or very dry soil. It is a poor fit for urban areas, where pollution stunts its growth. A good planting site is one with well-draining loam in full sun to partial shade.

Uses

• Bracken's Brown Beauty main use is as a specimen tree on a lawn taking advantage of its flowering effect, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. Create a windbreak or a privacy screen by planting multiple individuals in a row. Bracken's Brown Beauty is also a potential espalier tree, pruned in such a way that its limbs grow in a flat plane when situated against a wall or fence.