Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly called southern magnolia, is a broadleaf evergreen tree that is noted for its attractive dark green leaves (to 10î long) and its large, extremely fragrant flowers (8-12î diameter). It typically grows to 60-80 tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown. It is native to moist wooded areas in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. By contrast, ëLittle Gem is a much smaller and slower growing cultivar that typically grows as a compact upright multi-stemmed shrub or small tree to 20 tall over the first 20 years. It features glossy gree... more »

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly called southern magnolia, is a broadleaf evergreen tree that is noted for its attractive dark green leaves (to 10î long) and its large, extremely fragrant flowers (8-12î diameter). It typically grows to 60-80 tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown. It is native to moist wooded areas in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. By contrast, ëLittle Gem is a much smaller and slower growing cultivar that typically grows as a compact upright multi-stemmed shrub or small tree to 20 tall over the first 20 years. It features glossy green leaves (to 5î long) that are bronze-brown underneath. Leaves typically drop to the ground in spring as new foliage emerges. Fragrant white flowers (to 4î diameter) bloom in summer. Flowers give way to spherical, cone-like fruiting clusters that mature in late summer to early fall, releasing individual rose-red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity. Genus name honors Pierre Magnol, French botanist (1638-1715). Specific epithet is from Latin meaning large flowers. (less)