No problems in the last 4 years with my Alta...takes a few days for it to spring back, but no damage.

I just attended the Magnolia Madness walk at the JC Raulston Arboretum where a similar question was addressed. The answer given was that "snow load tolerance was not a trait for which the breeders were currently selecting." Because of the nature of their native niches, these trees have not, as a species, staked their survival on high snow load tolerance.

The best bet I would seek out would be an evergreen hybrid between the grandiflora and a species that originates from a region of higher altitude. The species from the higher altitudes may have potential adaptations in the structure of limb arrangement, or extended fibers in its wood, which may be carried into the next generation and make something visually close enough to what we are used to seeing; and, in the new tree, a structurally more adept organism.

Please post a follow-up if a cross, as such, exists.
---Keith

Here is a link that might be useful: JC Raulston Arboretum. Raleigh, NC

Here's the thing Keith. Most of the Grandiflora cultivars I have seem to deal with even the heavy wet snow loads--even those with characteristically broad leaves (aligned horizontally or even descending). I only had issues with one cultivar of moderate leaf size whose leaves where oriented much more vertically. I think it's the Teddy bear variety (has a rich cinnamon colored bottom). The snow just accumulated and was caught up in pockets that did not permit it to shed the weight of the snow so that eventually the branches would snap off. I had no problems with any of the following cultivars: Majestic Beauty, Edith Bogue, Little Gem, Green Giant or Victoria. It's an interesting question for further research. Even though these trees need not be adapted for heavy snow loads, I would think that they do have the issue with potential damage from freezing rain and ice storms (which are actually relatively rare here compared to heavy WET snow concerns). Thanks for the thoughtful response. PS. Latest weather woes have nothing to do with snow or ice, currently experiencing torrential rains and gale force winds.

I have a Teddy Bear that just survived its second winter and came through much better than the first. The snow accumulation last year was so heavy it was literally bent to the ground...I was sure it would die. But it came through with flying colors and although it did have the same heavy accumulation this year, had no bending or branches breaking at all. Granted, it's still quite small...6' or so. But for it to come through our foot of snow in January was impressive by the standards it set the first year!

This tree is such an outstanding variety in other ways that I'm not as concerned about the snow shedding issue, although I agree it is worth consideration.

We are in SC so don't have the heavy snow loads but we do have ice! We have had very little damage from ice accumulation on Teddy Bear ® while all other cultivars of magnolias have NOT withstood ice accumulation well.