Little Gem Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NOL-ee-ah gran-dih-FLOR-uh
- Description
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‘Little Gem’ is a much smaller (dwarf) and slower-growing cultivar of the Southern magnolia or Large tree magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) that typically grows as a compact, upright, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree to 20’ tall over the first 20 years. Learn more about "Magnolia grandiflora". Leaves are glossy green above and bronze-brown on the underside. lowers give way to spherical cone-like fruiting clusters (to 3-5” long) that mature in late summer to early fall, releasing individual rose-red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity.
This small tree is moderately salt tolerant, best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams, and is generally intolerant of soil extremes (dry or wet). Intolerant of many urban pollutants. 'Little Gem' is native to moist wooded areas in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida and Texas.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden, All Saints Episcopal, Concord
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- grandiflora
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt