Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem

Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem
The appeal of the magnolia tree is timeless.  The Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem is a dwarf tree version of the classic large and sprawling magnolia grandiflora. The tree’s petite compact growth makes it an ideal choice of ornamental evergreen tree for a small garden setting. These Magnolia Little Gems have been trained as three-quarter standard trees on clear stems. 
The Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem features large, evergreen leaves that look eye-catching year round. The underside of each shiny dark green leaf is a burnished red shade. Once per year the tree produces huge, fragrant, white flowers in abundance. It is not uncommon for the tree to start producing flowers when it stands only 90 centimeters tall. Flowers appear in the summer and often persist for two months or more. After flowering, the tree produces cone-like fruiting clusters that are adorned with clusters of bright red seeds. Many people consider the cones of the tree to be every bit as visually appealing as the tree’s flowers.   
Its compact size and slow growth habits makes it ideal to grow as a specimen tree or as part of a hedge. It can also be trained to grow as an espalier against a fence or wall. The tree has even become a popular container tree to be placed around patios, pools, decks and other space-conserving locations. When fully grown, the Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem attains a height of around 10 meters with a width of around 3 to 4 meters. However, full growth is often not attained until the tree is 30 plus years old. 
Plant the Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem in full sun for best growth. It flourishes in moist, rich, peat-filled soils. The tree does not tolerate drought and prefers evenly moist soil conditions. Ideally, the tree’s best growth is attained when it is planted in slightly acidic soil. However, it will tolerate clay soil but its growth habits might be stunted or slowed.  
Even though the Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem flourishes in heat and humidity, don’t let its affinity for warmth fool you. The tree can tolerate temperatures that dip to minus 17 Celsius for as short time. 
The Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem requires very little care to flourish. It benefits from an application of fertilizer in the spring and it will tolerate springtime pruning. 
A tough hardy tree, the Magnolia Grandiflora Little Gem is a welcome addition to any garden. Its year round beauty makes it a focal point wherever it is planted.