Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' is a scaled-down version of the majestic evergreen tree known as the Southern Magnolia or Tulip Tree. With a particularly compact habit forming a beautiful pyramid, it has the same dark and shiny foliage as the species type, and the same long-lasting summer blooms, but it can be more sensitive to severe frost. For almost three months, even on a young plant, flowers similar to large pure white tulips appear, with a deliciously lemony scent. 'Little Gem' is a treasure for a small garden and adapts well to containers for decorating the terrace.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Originally from the Southeastern United States, Magnolia grandiflora thrives in light, heat, humidity, and rich and deep soils. Its range extends from Texas to Virginia, passing through the northern and central regions of Florida. In Europe the further north you go, the less it flowers. 'Little Gem' is a cultivar selected for its very compact growth and rapid flowering. At maturity it rarely exceeds 2.5 m (8 ft) in height, with a spread of 1.5 to 2.5 m (5 to 8 ft). In certain climates and in the most favourable soils it can reach a height of 4 m (13 ft). Its growth rate is quite slow. The main flowering period is in summer, from June to August-September (in the southeastern USA, flowering starts at the end of April and ends in July). The large solitary flowers, resembling 15 cm (5.9 in) diameter tulips, are composed of thick, pure white petals, open around a cone covered with yellow stamens. Each flower only lasts for one day on the tree, but they continuously renew. This flowering is followed by the formation of large reddish cones, which are quite decorative and reveal red seeds. The evergreen leaves are alternate, simple, entire, leathery, 15 to 20 cm (5.9 - 7.9 in) long, dark and shiny on the upper side, with a matte bronze colour on the underside.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' will of course work as a standalone tree in a small garden, but also in a large container on the terrace. Choose a strategic spot in the garden to be able to admire this charming little tree, perhaps the most beautiful of all evergreens, and enjoy its intensely lemon-scented flowering. Associate with e.g. another small-sized deciduous magnolia with spring flowering, such as the Magnolia 'George Henry Kern'. This magnolia is well-suited to topiary art and can be shaped into a pyramid, to be placed on either side of a large stone staircase, for instance.