Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
evergreen magnolia 'Little Gem'
'Little Gem' is a compact, small tree of narrowly columnar habit, reaching up to 8m, with glossy oblong leaves up to 12cm long, with a deep brown felt on the underside, and small, white, lightly scented flowers, 10cm across.
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Green | ||
| Autumn | White | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist, well-drained, preferably neutral to acid soil, in sun or part shade. Tolerates dry alkaline soil. magnolia cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn; grafting in winter; chip budding in summer or layering in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Low Maintenance
- Hedging and screens
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 9 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained. See magnolia pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug
Diseases
May be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.