Magnolias really do prefer the south, @LadyLocust . My mom had a few different ones in Maryland and would be lucky every year if after they started blooming, there wasn't another hard frost. It would mess up her Star Magnolia flowers. From what I've read, there are a few types that would do okay in western WA.
I have 2 favorites, Mtn magnolia and sweet bay... Here are the cones of mtn magnolia aka Frazier Magnolia.. It only grows on mountain tops in the southern appalachia.