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        • Buchanan’s Native Plants has been serving Houston gardeners since 1986. Located in the historic Houston Heights, the garden center is dedicated to native plants and organic gardening.  You will find the best selections of hardy natives as well as perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs & roses — all suited to the Houston climate.

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Home » Plant Library » Texas Native » Little Gem Magnolia
Little Gem Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

Little Gem Magnolia

Botanical name: Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’

A wonderful fast growing magnolia which features large white, fragrant flowers in spring on this compact tree; makes an ideal front yard accent tree, oval shape great for screening and also suitable for espalier.

Other names: Southern Magnolia

  • Characteristics
  • Features and Attributes
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Characteristics

Hardiness zone 6a
Flower color white
Foliage type evergreen
Plant form pyramidal
Mature height 30 feet
Spread 15 feet
Light requirements

full sun to partial shade

Moisture requirements

moist

Plant origin Texas Native

Ornamental Features

Little Gem Magnolia is blanketed in stunning fragrant white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has dark green foliage. The large pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy pink pods displayed from early to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Little Gem Magnolia is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Little Gem Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Accent

Planting and Growing

Little Gem Magnolia will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a species native to parts of our region.

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Buchanan’s Native Plants
611 East 11th Street
Houston, Texas 77008

713-861-5702

Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Open Every Day – Monday – Sunday

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