Join now and start creating your dream garden! I appreciate the dark, glossy foliage of this kind of evergreen. Additionally, she completed a course in digital journalism in 2014. Pruning other than minor trimming is not required or recommended. Being a dwarf variety, the little gem magnolia tree only grows between 7-9 metres tall. Using a blade, you will need to wound the base of the cutting, taking care to expose the greenish inner layer of the bark. Theres nothing like a bull bay magnolia in spring and summer with its flowers dropped like dollops of vanilla ice cream on its big leaves between evergreen and deciduous, there's something for every garden. Hardy to about 0 degrees, this slow-growing evergreen can eventually reach 25 . However, it prefers sandy or clay soils. But at 25 feet high and 10-12 feet wide at maturity, I hardly think anyone would describe that as dwarf.. Aim to use a fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 20-5-20 or 12-4-8. When branches are cut, they send up vertical shoots that ruin the trees natural shape. Finally, if you want to add a tropical feel to your garden, Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' is the tree for you. Most summer and fall-blooming bulbs are going to need a lot of sunlight. Magnolia 'Little Gem' is available for sale from the following participating suppliers TALL TREES - PH (03)59830166 Fax (03)59830188 Advanced container grown trees & shrubs. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. In addition, Camellia varieties such as "Buttons and Bows," "Jacks," "Eos Camellia Sansanqua" and the "Common Camellia" commonly grow near the Southern magnolia as do hosta varieties, "Aureo marginata," "Blue Umbrellas" and "Blue Cadet." Little gem is a smaller tree, usually reaching only about 6 metres when fully mature. What is the difference between a little gem and a teddy bear magnolia? Plant them along the edge of the canopy, or a little further in if you have a deciduous magnolia. Plants to grow with Little Gem Magnolia Type of Plant (if known): Little Gem Magnolia Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself): What can I grow in the same garden bed as little gems? A dwarf southern magnolia with smaller dark green foliage and a very compact narrow form. Where a pH is below 6 apply liberal applications of dolomite lime and water well. Randy Lemmon Consulting Selecting magnolia companion plants can be a challenge. Be sure to check that your soil is draining well and has enough iron. Step 3 ", "Southland muscadine" and "Summit muscadine" grapes prosper near Southern magnolias. A loam is a type of soil that . The ultimate guide to low-maintenance plants and landscaping! The purple berries of the beautyberry make eye-catching neighbors for the "Little Gem" magnolia. Thereafter, you can cut back to once or twice a week and half of that in winter. Beautiful when established and a very tolerant species. Other compatible shrub companions include the strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus), Southern bayberry and the sweetleaf. Underplanting magnolias with shade-loving plants is an easy way to ensure success, and popular companion plants include clivias, peace lilies, hydrangeas and blue ginger ( Dichorisandra thyrsiflora ). The large, sweetly perfumed blooms of the evergreen "Little Gem" magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) shrub make them appealing additions to home landscaping as hedges, borders, or on a trellis as a screen or entry way. Just one blossom can fill a house with its heady scent. You can also grow hostas (Hosta spp., hardy in USDA zones 3-9) under magnolia trees. Bulbs make ideal magnolia tree companions. These include Little Gem that grows to about 4m, Teddy Bear that grows to about 2m and is ideal for a container on your balcony, deck or courtyard. Port wine magnolia (Michelia figo) is not strictly a magnolia, although it belongs to the same family, which is why it is such a delightful plant to consider. Best enjoyed as a feature tree. Most magnolias grow best in warm climates, but this can vary depending on the species. They need light shade. This evergreen perennial has dense foliage, which makes it ideal as an ornamental privacy screen or hedge. AussieGreenThumb.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 'Little Gem' will reach approximately 4m (12) in height and 2.5m (8) in width. Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem" is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen tree that reaches a height of 20 to 25 feet and has a spread of 10 to 15 feet in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant . When it comes to soil, opt for rich, well-drained, and slightly acidic. Test kits are available from garden centres. Check these Great Plant Combination Ideas with Magnolia, A Lovely Backyard Retreat with Achillea, Festuca and Grasses, A Long-Lasting Summer Garden Idea with Marigold and Sage, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries, Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' (Southern Magnolia), Grows up to 15-20 ft. tall (450-600 cm) and 7-10 ft. wide (210-300 cm). Prized for its smaller size, attractive evergreen foliage, and fragrant flowers, Little Gem is a popular magnolia for small spaces. You will get faster growth in warmer climates that cold climates, so a protected position in colder climates will improve growth rate. I understand the recommendation of the Little Gem as an accent tree, but its root system and growth pattern make it anything but, in my opinion. If you're planting a row of dwarf magnolias, place them 6 feet apartor, for a privacy screen, 4 feet apart is fine. When pruning, avoid cutting off any young buds which may be growing for the next season. You can listen to Randy every Saturday & Sunday morning from 6am 10am on 740 KTRH. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Geranium . It is recommended to regularly clean any debris from the base of the tree to prevent the spread of any diseases. The leaves scorch when they get too much sun, and they dont bloom well when they get too much shade. Controlled-release fertiliser for acid-loving plants in spring. 174 Dowding St Oxley, Brisbane, OPEN 7 DAYS 8AM - 4PM | 174 Dowding St. Oxley, Brisbane. Beautiful bronze foliage, large white fragrant flowers and dense growth habits. Long may they reign! Yulan magnolia or lily tree (M. denudata) is considered the most beautiful of magnolias but is less common is our gardens, perhaps because, as one of the parents of many magnolia cultivars, its quite slow growing and is smaller (to 5m). Deciduous trees thrive best in a temperate climate in a position that receives direct sunlight. OPEN 7 DAYS | What is the lifespan of a little gem magnolia? It can be planted almost anywhere there's sunshine - even fairly close to the house. If growing little gem magnolia in pots, youll want to choose a potting mix that is slightly acidic, loamy and moist. What fertiliser is best for a little gem magnolia? Have a question? Choose a mixture of spring, summer, and fall bulbs so that you always have something in bloom. They shouldnt require any pruning at all if they are healthy and growing strongly. Plan to plant one now. A naturally small tree or large shrub perfect for small gardens. Find the best gardening tips, growing guides, gardening tool reviews, plant profiles and more for Australian Gardens, all at Aussie Green Thumb. For this reason, some home gardeners choose to plant bulbs or hardy annuals near their magnolia trees. The most prominent issue is Magnolia Scale. If you notice your little gem isnt producing as many flowers as it should, it may be due to a lack of sunlight. If you prefer a larger, more stately tree, consider the D. D. Blanchard magnolia. Cucumber or blue magnolia (M. accuminata) produces exquisite yellow, tulip-shaped flowers about 10cm long. The tree produces a heavy bloom in spring and then blooms on and off the rest of the year (more in warm months). Bulbs look their best in groupings. Bulbs make ideal magnolia tree companions. Elegant and perfect enough not to be gilded with the unnecessary distraction of leaves. Foliage plants can completely transform the area by giving it a lush look. The Little Gem magnolia tree grows slowly to about 15 to 20 feet. The gorgeous blooms will delight your senses with their sweet aroma and clean beauty. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! $25. The Little Gem magnolia tree is the sweetest of all South Florida's small flowering trees - compact, hardy, and wonderfully fragrant. When planting, be sure to give your little gem magnolia tree plenty of space to grow to its full size. It is usually a very dense grower and will bloom on and off right through the year. The University of Washington Botanic Gardens recommends that gardeners and landscapers, "tuck in natural spreaders and let them flourish untouched.". To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Teddy bear magnolia can grow up to 10 metres tall, perfect for those looking for a bigger magnolia tree. Dogwood varieties that require similar climate conditions include the "Common White," "Stellar Pink," "Cherokee Chief Red" and "Cherokee Daybreak." Should your little gem leaves begin to yellow, this may be due to a nutrient deficiency. Growth can be better contained when planted in pots to help retain a shapely and ornamental appearance. For these issues, you wont need to look at chemical control. The tree produces a heavy bloom in spring and then blooms on and off the rest of the year (more in warm months). Just keep them well-watered -- they like cool, moist soil. Unlike many other plants, Magnolia grandiflora little gem is able to withstand some flooding, so you wont need to worry too much about overwatering. Deer rarely bother Southern Magnolia. From the trunk, the roots can cover a distance of about 4 times the canopy width. Deleting this collection CANNOT be undone. Select a size: 2-3 ft. Add to Cart. Your email address will not be published. Join our newsletter to receive helpful seasonal tips specific to Australian gardens. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. It produces deep, rich, port wine coloured flowers in spring and summer just inside the foliage, so can be used as a decorative hedge. across (25 cm), shaded with pink and purple, gracefully open their 9 large tepals as . Magnolia little gem plenty available ready to be planted. Goblet-shaped, the large white flowers, up to 10 in. The root systems of these trees are wider spreading than other trees. Grass wont grow under a magnolia tree, but you can depend on shade-tolerant foliage plants to serve as groundcover. Magnolias always look their best in full sun, at least 5-6 hours of sun per day. Required fields are marked. across (10 cm), they are packed with up to 40 long and narrow tepals and are extremely showy Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata) Learn More This will train your little gem into a smaller shape. Magnolias prefer a temperate climate, and a sunny spot with a northern or eastern aspect. Moderate watering. Growing Conditions Poor growth can also be from insufficient light. Especially if you are growing a magnolia little gem hedge, it is recommended to prune lightly if necessary. Plant the cutting into a sterile, fast-draining growing medium to root. Magnolias have a large canopy that dominates the landscape. Because some magnolia trees have such large canopies, the ground below may receive only dappled or indirect sunlight. Grows up to 15-20 ft. tall (450-600 cm) and 7-10 ft. wide (210-300 cm) A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in organically rich, moist, preferably neutral to acid, well-drained soils. It is possible to propagate little gems either by seed or by cutting. It grows fairly fast up here in the sub-tropics and has a long growing season. Randys advice is the perfect blend of science and experience. That said, they are sometimes clipped into a hedge, or even grown as an espalier! Not sure which Magnolia to pick?Compare All Magnolia, Buy Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' (Southern Magnolia).