If you live in a close city environment, you might get one to survive a few years untill an especially bad winter. I'm about 15 miles from the Delaware bay and about 25 from the Chesapeake, so it's a bit warmer here generally. a couple of neighbors had fair sized ones till a hard year in the 70s killed them all. There are a few still growing in Newark and some over in Wilmington, but only in dense urban areas with the extra heat. Basically it's a losing proposition.

I am in Delaware County. I put in a Brackens Brown Beauty a few years ago. It is even exposed to some wind, and it is thriving without any significant winter burn/damage. BBB is one of the cold hardy cultivars. Another is Edith Bogue.

One of the problems - if you get it to live long , the large sometimes evergreen leaves will get covered with ice and become heavy and break. Many other Magnolias to choose.

Go to your local nursery and ask them what their customers (in your area) have had best luck growing.

I guess it all depends on your local conditions. I have been growing Magnolia grandifloras for some 30 years in my NJ location (Zone 6b to 7 depending on who and when you ask). Have experienced minimal winter burn on Magnolia grandiflora 'Edith Bogue' or 'Victoria'. Bracken's Brown also has an excellent reputation, is sold locally and available, but I have not grown one so can't confirm. Regarding snow load, those I mentioned also have excellent snow load tolerance but although we have had a few ice issues, ice storms are not that common for me (more so, heavy snow and they handle that surprising well!)

I have a 'D.D. Blanchard' near Media, PA

I have 13 Southern Magnolias growing in northern Lancaster County, PA. The cultivars are Edith Bogue, 24 Below, and another one of which I've lost the identity of. All are very hardy in this area with some leaf burn during the first winter on newly planted trees. Edith Bogue develops a more open canopy as it matures. 24 Below has a more lush,tropical look than Edith Bogue, but is hardy nevertheless. The oldest Edith Bogue I have is about 25 years old and 23' tall.

The only downside I've experienced is wet, clingy snow overloading branches. The wood has a strength similar to Tulip Poplar and branches can snap off due to snow load.

The strong points for me are the evergreen foliage during winter and the exquisite fragrance during the blooming season that permeates the lawn and garden, especially during the evenings and mornings.

I am in Zone 6a Pa I am in Fayette county Pa here. I have a Magnolia Grandiflora that has been doing great for the last 3 years here with no protection. I got them from mossy oak natives nursery, they are out of them and have been for a couple years, but, the Magnolia Grandiflora is zone 5-6 hardy. I can vouch for the Mag Grandiflora, as I said I have one in my yard that has dealt with -11F the winter before last with no problem. Good luck.

If the OP is still curious, I can post a pic of my Mag. Grandiflora, it is doing great still. I am guessing that the OP has already tried an evergreen Mag, so hasn't checked this post/subject. I will add that I tried a BBB Mag and it died on me, but the Mag. Grand. Is doing great. A friend of mine had the same tree seedling die on her because she didn't water it at all after I transplanted her 2 of them, and the wind in her yard dried it up. So with care to the seedling, water the first year or so when rain isn't there at least 2 times a week, and when you have bad winter winds, and don't help the tree out from blowing those trees out of the ground and drying them out, they will die. These seedlings were about 2 ft tall, with their evergreen large leaves in high wind, the trees literally blew out of the ground, their large leaves acting like a sail, blew em right out of the ground. I stressed the watering, but wasn't aware of the wind blowing em out of their planting hole. Mine hadn't had to face all that wind, and I watered mine often. In her defense my friend didn't know anything about trees, and has clay soil.

I would love to see a picture. Just received 2 for Mother’s Day. I’m in Lehigh Valley, PA. 6b