A couple other magnolias that are rated zone 3 hardy but I haven't tried are Cucumber Magnolia and Merill Magnolia.

Both are grown in Minnesota and the Merill is rated zone 3 hardy in Colorado where I'm sure they would know.

Thanks, Eclipselandscapes.

I had tried Merill in Edmonton and it did not make it. It always died back to the snow line and after few years it died completely.

I tried several so-called zone 3 hardy magnolia (depending on where you read the rating) and until now, nothing proven to be reliable in Edmonton.

M. Spring Welcome is the newest one I like to try.

That's unfortunate considering Edmonton is being rated zone 4 now apparently according to the new hardiness maps. Meaning these magnolias would be zone 4b or 5. It may depend where in the city you are. Closer to the centre, more likely you are zone 4 and closer to the outside you could be 3b or even 3. International airport is 3 for sure.

I tried butterflies magnolia one year and it died back to the ground as well.....no luck. Cucumber magnolia grows to 80 feet in minnesota....so maybe it would work. But it doesn't have the good flowers.