Little Gem 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.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale is an occasional pest. Leaf litter in both spring and fall can be high maintenance.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden, All Saints Episcopal, Concord
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- 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:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- 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
- Problems:
- Messy