Magnolia Little Gem: An Exquisite Garden Favourite

If you have a small garden, getting the Magnolia Little Gem makes a lot of sense. A dwarf variety of the Southern Magnolia, the brilliant evergreen foliage and the accompanying flowers, striking as they are exquisite, are somewhat a showstopper. The leaves are green with beautiful glossiness on top, while the underside dons a rust-coloured shade. The flowers, on the other hand, are large, creamy white, and very fragrant. They bloom from late spring to early summer and even early autumn. 

How to Plant Magnolia Grandiflora?

Planting Magnolia Grandiflora is straightforward, and it adapts well to a variety of Australian climates. You can get started by keeping these essential things in mind: 

• The best time to plant Little Gem Magnolia is early spring or the cooler months of autumn. Find more planting tips here. 
• It thrives in well-drained, organically rich, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Before planting, enrich the drained soil with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to ensure it is nutrient-rich. Choosing the right soil is key to plants' healthy growing conditions. 
• Choose a sunny to partially shaded spot with protection from harsh winds. Full sun is the best choice for the Little Gem Magnolia tree, but it can tolerate some shade. 
• After planting, water thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots. You can keep on watering on a regular basis but once established, it’s best to reduce watering since the Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' is moderately drought-tolerant once mature.

Why Should You Buy Magnolia Grandiflora 'Little Gem'?

The Little Gem Magnolia is an exquisite-looking evergreen tree that’s also versatile. It thrives in a range of environments, making it a top pick for many gardeners. 

Here are more reasons why Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' is a worthwhile investment when designing your garden:

• Compact Size: Who says you can’t have a stunning garden just because you don’t have a massive space for it? The Little Gem Magnolia is, well, little, so it’s just right for those with small gardens or tight spaces. 
• Attractive Year-Round: With its evergreen foliage and striking white, fragrant flowers that also smell wonderful, it provides year-round beauty, meaning your garden can look heavenly in every season! 
• Requires Minimal Care: New gardeners will love Magnolia Grandiflora, not only for its beauty in any garden space, but also because it doesn’t need much effort to maintain, just a tad pruning and attention. It's a low maintenance plant with lots of charm to give!  
• Thrives in Several Growing Conditions: Whether you have clay soil or sandy soil, this evergreen will thrive in your garden. The Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' is also known for its ability to attract wildlife, including birds and butterflies.

How to Care for a Magnolia Little Gem?

Caring for it is simple so gardeners can just take it easy when planting and growing the Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem’. Here are essential steps to remember:

• Once established, Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem only needs moderate watering. Remember to water deeply during dry spells, but avoid overwhelming the soil with abundant water.
• To promote healthy growth and generate flowers, apply a slow-release fertiliser in spring.  
• When it comes to pruning plants, it's important to know what kind of pruning a certain plant needs. With the Little Gem Magnolia, light pruning after flowering is best to maintain its shape. Heavy pruning is not necessary and should be avoided to prevent damage to the plant. Remove any dead or damaged branches to foster better health. 
• Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the roots cool. Just make sure that the mulch does not touch the trunk to prevent rot.

Things to Consider When Growing Magnolia Grandiflora

While Magnolia Little Gem is easy to grow, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure it grows well. For instance, while it is suitable for various climates across the country, it may require extra care in extremely hot or dry areas.

The Little Gem Magnolia tree is also generally pest and disease-resistant, but could still occasionally  suffer from scale insects or leaf spot. You can avoid this with early detection and treatment. 

Finally, Magnolia Grandiflora may be compact, but it still requires room to grow. If you’re using it as a hedge, it’s important that you plant it with sufficient space to spread its breathtaking foliage and flowers. 

Treating Your Magnolia Grandiflora For Signs of Diseases and Pests 

Treating plants for pests and diseases requires early detection to stop it from spreading and harming your plant. In the case of the Little Gem Magnolia, leaf spot, blight, and verticillium wilt can cause the foliage to suffer from dark spots, yellowing, and loss of leaves. Verticillium wilt is diagnosed by a soil test; unfortunately, there's no remedy once confirmed. To salvage the plant from leaf spot and blight, pruning out diseases and damaged branches is the best course of action. 

Magnolia trees can also be affected by pests, commonly aphids, thrips, and scale. Using neem oil or insecticidal soap typically solves this problem. It also leads to potential problems when caterpillars leave behind ragged and chewed foliage. To prevent this from developing into something serious, find and remove egg masses on the undersides of leaves and the tree's trunk.

While the Little Gem Magnolia tree can be affected by common diseases and pests, it can easily survive such conditions as long as they're healthy. Make them stronger by providing the best growing conditions, specifically lots of sunlight and fertiliser in spring.

Where Can I Buy a Magnolia Little Gem?

Looking for a Little Gem Magnolia tree for sale? You can buy this beautiful plant from our online store and have it shipped directly to your door. Whether you’re in the  Gold Coast area, Sunshine coast, or anywhere in between, we’ve got you covered with our reliable delivery service. Check out our Plantastic Delivery section for more shipping information. 

Companion Plants for Little Gem Magnolia

The Little Gem Magnolia tree complements a variety of other plants, which include the following.

• Gardenias: Magnolia Grandiflora and Gardenias share the same vibe seeing both have glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. 
• Camellias: Camellias add vibrant colour to your garden in winter, and spring and like Little Gem Magnolia, is another evergreen favourite.
• Azaleas: Creating a striking contrast in gardens produce gorgeous results. The bright blooms of azaleas, when planted in front, will give exactly that when paired with the white, ethereal flowers of Little Gem Magnolia.
• Hydrangeas: The various shades of hydrangeas, when planted near your Magnolia Grandiflora, create a splash of summer hues — definitely a good look for your garden, especially when following a cottage-themed design.