| General Description | 'Little Gem' Magnolia grandiflora is a dwarf variety of the Southern
Magnolia evergreen. Little Gem Southern Magnolia is known to be more compact and smaller than its mother plant, with a crown that is upright and pyramidal. It is notable for its glossy, deep green leaves and showy, fragrant white flowers that bloom from late spring through the summer. |
| ID Characteristic | Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is best identified by its fragrant and
striking white flowers. Little Gem Magnolias have vibrant, healthy green leaves with a glossy appearance and contrasting golden blown undersides. Visually, the Little Gem appears very similar to its mother plant, the Southern Magnolia, but is set apart by its smaller form. |
| Shape | Little Gem has a denser growth habit and a smaller, more compact shape. It possesses a symmetrical oval canopy and an upright pyramidal crown. |
| Landscape | This evergreen can be utilized as a screening plant, accent, or specimen. |
| Propagation | Propagation can be performed in a variety of methods, such as semi-ripe cuttings in late summer to early fall, grafting, or layering in early spring. |
| Cultivation | Prefers moist, acidic, peaty soil under full sun to partial shade. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is slow-growing but requires more space for root expansion as it is known to have a root zone that can spread four times its canopy width. Little Gem can be frost and drought tolerant once established, and has a moderate salt tolerance. Known to be generally low maintenance, Little Gem responds well to pruning though little is required. |
| Pests | Little Gem Southern Magnolias are susceptible to Magnolia scale, Magnolia borer, leaf spot, blight, black mildew, canker, tulip-poplar, and girdling roots due to their large spreading root systems. |
| Notable Specimens | Auckland Botanical Gardens - Urban Trees. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | The older bark has a brownish grey colour, and it is quite thin. This
makes it easy to damage. New growth is green. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds have multiple lobes that have a pointed prickle tip, fuzzy texture, and are capsule-like in shape. As they grow, they change from a light green to a reddish colour. |
| Leaf Description | Little Gem Magnolias are a broadleaf evergreen with elliptical-shaped leaves and a simple leaf arrangement. Leaf blades range in length from 4 to 8 inches. The leaves are glossy green with golden brown undersides and reddish brown fuzz. After new leaves grow in, the leathery-feeling leaves shed. |
| Flower Description | Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' has lovely white flowers that bloom in
late spring and have a pleasant aroma. These flowers are typically 8 inches long, with a waxy texture and a striking appearance. These flowers appear as tomentose buds on the ends of twigs. |
| Fruit Description | Fruit on the Little Gem appears as a 5-inch burgundy fuzzy elongated conical shape. These ripen in the fall and emerge in the winter as singular, follicle, red-coated seeds that can attract birds. |
| Colour Description | Foliage is a glossy deep green with copper matte undersides. Flowers are a vibrant white with a waxy appearance. Fruit emerges as a conical tomentose bud that begins green, and turn a red-brown colour as they ripen. Once fully ripened, fruit appears as bright red berries adding winter interest to this plant. Bark on Magnolia grandiflora “Little Gem’ is a dull grey red. |
| Texture Description | Little Gem is a coarse textured evergreen tree. |