I collect magnolia leaves fresh off the ground when they fall, rinse them off outside** then boil them for 20-30 minutes. I then let them air dry for a few weeks to avoid accidentally igniting them in the oven. They last for years stored in a dry cardboard box, so I've just been processing a big batch every few years as needed.

As a bonus, having a big pile on hand gives me 'fall coloured' leaves year round to use as photo props/backdrops.


**they often harbour spiders and such that it doesn't seem fair to toss them straight into the boiling pot