SCIENTIFIC NAME: Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

COMMON NAME: Little Gem Southern Magnolia

GARDEN SIZE: 15 to 20 feet tall by 7 to 10 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Slow to moderate

USDA ZONE: 7 to 9

EXPOSURE: Full sun to part shade

WATER & SOIL: Well-drained soil; water deeply during drought once established

HABIT (FORM): Compact, upright, dense; multi-stemmed shrub or small tree

FOLIAGE: Evergreen; glossy green leaves with bronze-brown undersides

FLOWERS: Fragrant white flowers, 4" diameter; bloom May–July

PLANT ORIGIN: Southeastern United States including Tennessee

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Host plant for local butterflies and moths, and food source for pollinators, birds, and small mammals. Supplies shelter and nesting sites.

FERTILIZING: Feed in early spring with an evergreen (acidic) fertilizer before new growth emerges in the spring

PRUNING: My be done in late February if needed for removing dead wood, shaping, or curtailing size. Avoid pruning if possible.

PET SAFETY: None known

USES: Specimen tree