May 26th, 2004
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
2004-05-26. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’.
2007-05-27. Loving this wet, cool spring.
Maybe because my Mom wore “White Shoulders”, I love the scent of the flowers old South: jasmine, gardenias, and magnolias. AJM, too, is impressed by magnolias and wanted me to plant one. But they grow into huge trees, casting a dense shade. I also worried that a magnolia would get chlorotic in our chalky soil and need special treatment, like azaleas (another plant I’ve avoided so far). This winter, however, I was impressed with some magnolias in an apartment landscaping along Victory Drive behind the Target on Ben White Blvd. They seemed green and healthy and the trees had a beautiful conical form.
So, after a little research on the net, I decided to buy ‘Little Gem’, a “dwarf” magnolia that is supposed to grow only to 12 to 20 feet tall. I found one at Floribunda Nursery and planted it last January. Today, although still quite young and only three feet tall, it produced three creamy flowers, each five inches across. The leaves are glossy green on the upper surface and a velvety-textured russet underneath. And the scent! sweet but also sharply lemon.
Zanthan Gardens History
2004-01-10.
Bought 3-gallon ‘Little Gem’ magnolia at Floribunda.
2005-01-09.
Fed, weeded and mulched with compost. Topped with cuttings from the Christmas tree and put the cover of flat rocks on top.
by M Sinclair Stevens in Austin, Texas
May 28th, 2004
In my neighborhood about one out of every four yards has a magnolia, but few of them really look good. they are too close to the house or too close to the drive, or else the leaves are yellowed.
It is good to know there is a smaller alternative. I think it would make a good screening plant at the edge of the yard.
I planted this one in the far corner of my yard…a rather wild spot which I haven’t done much with. This was the spot that had been the shade garden and now that my neighbor cut down his trees is a sun garden. In the summer time, the deciduous Mexican plums provide a screen from my neighbors, but in winter we had no privacy (chain link fence in the back). Based on the size estimates I planted the magnolia at least ten feet away from anything else. I’ve added coffee grounds (from Starbucks) to the mulch to increase the acidity. — mss
June 19th, 2004
Does anyone know if Little Gem dwarf magnolias can be trained into a sort of bonsai shape. I wanted to use sasanqua camillias around a fountain but, because the plants will have to be in full sun, I am thinking about dwarf magnolias. Any information will be much appreciated.
August 27th, 2005
I have 2 of these trees in my front yard and they are very hardy and have flowers all summer long especialy late summer early fall. I fertilize them with fresh horse manure and they seem to love it.
October 24th, 2005
Hi, I have a planter on a courtyard that is about 1.5 feet by 8 feet that backs against a second story wall with no windows. I love the Little Gem leaves and flowers and wondered if I could plant one in this spot that gets full sun most of the day without problems interfering with the concrete patio or the foundation of the house. Is there a way to stunt this tree’s growth without sacrificing its looks or flowering ability?
Even though it is not the size of a full-grown magnolia, ‘Little Gem’ can still become a large tree. On the other hand the Japanese have been keeping trees small through pruning for hundreds of years. However, bonsai requires a lot of maintenance. My ‘Little Gem’ has barely grown at all in 3 years. So it might be worth a try in a planter. — mss
May 16th, 2006
Can I plan ‘Little Gem’ magnolia close to the house foundation. Or the root damage the foundation.
How far from the foundation recommended?
What kind of root system does it have?
No. Do not plant trees close to a house. — mss
July 21st, 2006
I have same question. I’m planting a dwarf magnolia tree in front of my house. It receives plenty of full sun all day but I’m not sure whether or not it’ll be too close to the house foundation. Do you know how big the root system is? My neighbor has a tree that she just planted, Amapola, (yellow leaves). Could these two trees survive next to each other?
Do not plant trees next to your house. Dwarf, is a relative word. In the case of magnolias it means 15 to 20 feet tall. Plant ‘Little Gem’ at least 10 feet away from your house and other large trees. Magnolias form a very dense shade that prevents most things in its shade from thriving. — mss
July 22nd, 2006
Can I plan little gem magnolia close to the house foundation? Or will the roots damage the foundation. How far from the foundation is recommended? What kind of root system does it have?
No. Yes. Ten feet minimum. I don’t know. — mss
September 17th, 2006
The leaves on my dwarf magnolia have a great deal of unhealthy brown in them and they are not glossy. The plant otherwise appears healthy but it did not have many flowers this past spring. The tree is planted in the path of the water drainage from the yard. So I believe lack of water is not the problem. I sprayed it for insects (potentially too late). Any guesses will be appreciated.
September 20th, 2006
Can I plant the dwarf Magnolia to grow up and over a large trellis for shade? And are they a slow or fast growing plant. I will need it to grow up 12′ tall and cover a 16′ x 12′ area. Thank you for your response.
A magnolia is a tree not a vine. I can’t imagine it on a trellis. Mine is very slow-growing but I don’t know if that is the case in general. — mss
October 6th, 2006
I’m told not to worry about all the brown and dead leaves on the dwarf magnolia; it just comes with the territory. I planted mine last year and it is growing quite well, despite all the brown leaves. But it only flowered about 10 flowers last year and none so far this year. Can someone please tell me how often and when they are supposed to flower? Also, what should I feed them. David, Long Beach, CA.
November 13th, 2006
I have a 3 year old Little Gem, and wanted to know the best time to prune it?
I don’t know. Mine is almost three years old and is still so small I’ve never had to prune it. In fact, it doesn’t seem to be growng much at all. I wonder if it will get to a certain age and then take off. — mss
November 20th, 2006
I think my husband planted a magnolia tree too close to the house. How would I know specifically. How many feet from the house?
Depends on what kind of magnolia tree it is. My ‘Little Gem’ only grows 20 feet tall and I would plant it at least 10 feet from a house. A standard magnolia can easily grow 50 feet or taller. I’d plant it at least 20 feet from a house and any power lines. — mss
February 28th, 2007
I was planning on putting a raised flower bed up against the foundation of my house. Is this a good idea? or is there something I can do to prep the area first so that I won’t have a moisture problem in my basement later? Thanks.
I don’t know. We don’t have basements in Austin. You should talk to someone in your area. — mss
April 16th, 2007
How far should I plant a southern magnolia from a concrete driveway . Will it uproot the driveway ?
April 20th, 2007
I live in Austin, Texas and just bought a Little Gem Magnolia about 4 feet high for $99.00 and I plant it in the corner of my back yard, it already has some buds and I hope they will eventually bloom this summer. Unfortunately the soil is black bottom clay, I’m afraid it will affect my Little Gem to grow healthy. When the worker dig the soil they put grower’s mix that I got from a local store. It has been 2 weeks now since it was planted, I saw one leaf on the ground, old one probably, other than that nothing change. How often should I water my Lil’Gem? It gets almost full sun and it’s planted on the west side. Thanks!
April 20th, 2007
There is a huge old magnolia in the side yard between my neighbors house and mine, north of my house and in their yard (Austin, Koenig and Link area). The ground is barren. What can I grow UNDERNEATH a magnolia? I understand the emptiness is from water competition, not tree chemicals (as with oaks).
It gets morning sun that sneaks in under the canopy, but after that, it’s all shade, all day! I’ve nixed water loving plants (ferns) because they compete for water. And drought resistant plants usually want sun (most succulents).
Suggestions? I’m seriously considering rock gardens. Any shade loving, magnolia friendly plants come to mind?
Thanks!
Nothing that I know of grows under a magnolia. The roots are shallow, don’t like to be disturbed, and suck the moisture out of the soil. The shade cast by a magnolia is intense. I can’t even recommend a rock garden underneath because of the leaf litter. One think you might try if you are desperate to have something is Spanish bluebells. They bloom only a couple of weeks a year so they might not be worth the trouble. I’ve never tried them under a magnolia but I’ve read other people have had a success with them. — mss
May 6th, 2007
Can I plant ‘Little Gems’ surrounded closely by a single row of bricks without hindering roots? Will the roots find their way past the bricks?
How closely? Are the bricks mortared in? Are you more worried about the bricks or the magnolias? If the latter, I wouldn’t worry. If they feel confined, they’ll just heave the bricks. — mss
May 28th, 2007
I live in Central Virginia (foothills of the Blue Ridge) and have a three year old Little Gem magnolia which has done splendidly and has doubled in size. This spring it came on normally then the leaves drooped and when the first blossoms cracked their covers, the petals had large, brown, spoiled spots and just browned out and died. I gave it a heavy watering two weeks before and wonder if it got too wet. Now the other flowers are opening normally, yet have little tiny insects in the flowers. Do you know what I should do if anything? A tree service is coming this week to spray the bagworm larva on the cypress trees so do you think the Little Gem needs a spray? If so what? Thanks.
Are you guys going through a drought this year? I don’t think it got too wet but if it’s been dry in your area then the magnolia will turn brown. Mine tends to look very unhappy in the height of Austin’s summers. I don’t spray my trees so I can’t offer any advice. The best person to talk to would be your tree specialist, who can look at the tree in person and who is familiar with the problems, pests, and diseases in your area. — mss
July 10th, 2007
i live in central fl., many houses in our development have beautiful wide magnolia trees. why is mine so skinny. my husband fertilizes it and cut some off top but it is so slim. it has blooms and looks healthy. than. you so much.
Are there other trees growing nearby? To branch out it needs to be by itself in full sun. Is it the same variety magnolia as your neighbors’ trees. There are all kinds of magnolia trees. You get the best advice for your area from your neighbors and your local nursery (not a big box store). — mss
July 23rd, 2007
I have a Little Gem tree and I want to know that after it flowers, do I cut the flowers off. How soon after planting can this tree be pruned?
One of the things I like about magnolias is letting the pods go to seed. The seeds have an interesting scent all their own. Try it. Of course, I cut so many flowers for the house, that I don’t usually have any pods left to go to seed. As for pruning, that depends entirely on the size of tree you planted and the shape you desire. I haven’t seen any need to prune mine at all. Magnolias have such a beautiful natural shape. — mss
October 25th, 2007
Can an oleander tree be planted in flower beds close to the foundation?
No. Oleander bushes are often wider than they are tall. They are no at all suited for foundation plantings. — mss
November 1st, 2007
Can I trim 4′ off my “Little Gem” Magnolia.
It might interfere with my Satelite Dish reception.
Depends on what percentage of the total plant the 4 feet is. I wouldn’t trim more than 30% of any plant in one year. Try your satellite dish first. If you have problems take a little bit off at a time. Whatever you do, don’t just hack 4 feet off the top. When in doubt, call in a professional tree trimmer. Trees are expensive to replace if you kill them. — mss
November 3rd, 2007
Does anyone know the difference between the little gem magnolia and a “feather magnolia”? thanks.
November 11th, 2007
I have an evergreen magnolia planted two feet away from the inner corner of our courtyard. The tree is about almost 30-yrs old and stands 20-ft tall. It has been pruned up so the canopy is over the house and partially over the courtyard. A small part of the sidewalk near the front door is slightly heaved and I worry about the roots of the magnolia going underneath the stemwall (?) of the house thought I was reassured that this was doubtful (there is a air register on the inside of the house near the window by the magnolia). For this reason, my husband would like to take the tree out and move it somewhere else, but I’m certain a move would kill it. Has anyone had any experience with magnolia roots causing damage to the house? There doesn’t seem to be a problem and I’m inclined to keep the tree since it’s evergreen and has survived subzero temps. I cuss the tree when I have to sweep up all the litter, but it really is lovely and the big blossoms are heavenly!
January 30th, 2008
I have heard that if you snap the ovaries off of the little gem, the branch will grow out and produce a new flower(hopefully). This could cause growth.
February 3rd, 2008
My neighbour has planted a magnolia tree next to our garage. I wish to find out how big are the magnolia roots and will it damage the garage wall? It has grown very high and branches are coming to my garage. What should I do with this magnolia tree?
Manel from Wantirna South
It really depends on what kind of magnolia it is. This ‘Little Gem’ grows quite slowly and reaches only 20 feet. However, no magnolia or any other kind of tree, should be planted close to a structure. — mss
February 20th, 2008
My in laws want to plant a magnolia tree in place of a live oak in their back yard. They don’t have any other trees and think only about the big blooms and of their childhoods…..it will be 10 years before a sweetbay is 10-12ft. I know they grow well in east texas, but what about next to a golf course in full texas heat? They are gone during the summer months also….
Is the live oak dead? Does it have oak wilt? If not, they shouldn’t remove it. I wouldn’t replace the live oak. I’d plant the magnolia in addition to it. You might suggest that they get a miniature, like my ‘Little Gem’. The leaves will probably burn somewhat in the summer time, depending on what kind of summer we get. There are quite a few magnolias all over Austin, especially downtown and on the UT campus. They seem to do fine over all. They do create a very dark shade under which nothing else (like grass) can be grown. — mss
February 27th, 2008
I just purchased a ‘Little Gem’ about 12 feet for 200 dollars and just planted it today. It was in a 65 gallon pot. I did not dig the hole quite big enough, maybe 1/4 inch less , so I covered the top with extra soil. The tree guy told me to build a little dam around the tree to hold water. Basically I put a wall of dirt about 3 inches from the hole all around the tree. The ‘Little Gem’ will be getting direct sunlight. After I planted it I soaked it with water. It looks a bit skinny now, but will it actually get wider. Should I put mulch around it or do nothing.
Trees generally fill out but a shape of a tree is influenced by pruning when it is young. The best person to answer that question is the tree man who sold it to you. By all means mulch. The tree well (your little earth dam) is also an excellent idea. –mss
March 3rd, 2008
I’m looking into planting a ‘Little Gem’, but I’m not sure if it can live in clay.
I garden on heavy black clay. So far mine is surviving and growing slowly. I suggest that you talk to gardeners in your area, your county extension agent, or to the helpful people at your local (not big box) nursery. — mss
March 19th, 2008
Will a Dwarf or Little Gem Magnolia do well in the shade. I don’t care if it gets to full heigth.
Mine is in shade about 2/3 of the day in the summer but in full sun during the winter. It survives but perhaps it would do better and produce more flowers if it got some sun. Why don’t you drive around your neighborhood and look at how people near year have planted theirs and how they look. For questions like these, local answers are the best. — mss
April 6th, 2008
I have another question is the “Little Gem: dwarf magnolia an evergreen tree, keeping its leaves all year long and if not can you recommend another magnolia that is still dwarf like but also an evergreen? Thanks for your input.
Mine is evergreen here in Central Texas, zone 8. This is a good question to ask the person you buy it from (as long as you are buying it from a knowledgeable and reliable local nursery). The best gardening information is local. — mss
April 20th, 2008
I noticed that the Little Gem is pyramidal in shape and the branches extend all the way to the ground. Can the lower branches be cut off, and the plant be trained up as a single trunk tree? Will its top spread out into a canopy/rounded type shape, or always be cone shaped? Thanks for your help.
May 12th, 2008
I would love to plant one of these and a bigger version in my yard. How hardy are they?
They’re hardy where I live, in Zone 8. You should talk to your local independent nursery where you live. — mss
May 24th, 2008
My Little Gem Magnolia has branches extending all the way to the ground. Can the lower branches be cut off? The leaves are a little thin and the lower trunk has something green growing on it. It hasn’t grown very much. Do they like coffee grounds? What kind of fertilizer should I use?
Yes you can cut the lower branches off. I put coffee grounds on mine because I have very alkaline soil. But you already have acidic soil in South Carolina, don’t you? The first thing in deciding how to amend the soil is to test it and see what you have. You should contact your local county extension office or a local independent nursery to answer specific questions for your area. The best garden advice is local–this is one area where one size does NOT fit all. — mss
May 26th, 2008
I just recently purchased a southern magnolia and planted it in my backyard. I live in spanish fort, al. We get alot of sun here with our tropical weather. I’m concerned about how large this tree will become and can i trim the tree to prevent the growth. Also, will all the grass around this tree die? If so, what to plant underneath it?
May 28th, 2008
We had a landscaper plant a ‘Little Gem ” tree in 2006 when we moved here.It is about 6 or 7 ft. ,planted in soil that is mostly red clay .It is in full sun ,looks great but has not flowered yet. Any suggestions ?
July 23rd, 2008
I was told by a PhD botanist that the Little Gem’s roots are fleshy and will not hurt the foundation of a house.
August 7th, 2008
I have a 3 year old Little Gem Magnolia that I transplanted from my backyard to my frontyard flower bed to use as an accent tree. It is 6′ tall with a shallow root system that is not very wide around at all. It’s a very slow grower. The sun exposure is the same in the new location as the old. I planted it the same depth and mulched around it in the same way. I watered it every day (temps have been 90-100 degrees), but after a week, the green leaves turned brown and brittle and started dropping. Each day it gets worse. Is my tree in shock from transplanting in such hot temperatures? Should I have waited until the Fall to transplant? There are no other trees nearby at all that would pull moisture away from the tree. Can my tree be saved? HELP!