About
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.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, well-drained, preferably neutral to acid soil, in sun or part shade. Tolerates dry alkaline soil. magnolia cultivation for further advice
PruningPruning group 9 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained. See magnolia pruning
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn; grafting in winter; chip budding in summer or layering in early spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot