A Guide to Evergreen Magnolias

Taxonomy through the evergreen magnolias. Evergreen Magnolias have been well loved for many years, 'Small Gem' I don't know being the real beginning of it all.

Now we have not only Magnolia 'Small Gem', but also Magnolia 'Kay Parris' and the newly unrestricted Magnolia 'Teddy Bear'. So we hear landscapers question 'what's the alteration?'

Magnolia Grandiflora
Magnolia Grandiflora will grow up to 20m or more, an absolutely fantastic specimen tree in park or a very large garden.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Small Gem'
Magnolia 'Small gem' was the first of the so called 'dwarf' magnolias, but it will still grow to 10m. Magnolia 'Small Gem' can be pruned back, this makes it well suited for maintaining as a tall hedge, but its fantastic as figure tree as well.

THE NEW ONES

Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris'
'Kay Parris' Magnolia is now available in the USA, UK and Australia, fantastic foliage, a very long flowering season, tolerates cold a small more than most magnolias. The leaves are a nice green, extremely glossy, with with a deep orange on the underside. Smaller growing than 'Small Gem' I don't know to only 6-9m, again it makes a nice specimen tree as it has excellent structure and holds its shape well, 'Kay Parris' Magnolia could also be a fantastic screen. A quicker growing tree than 'Small Gem'

Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'

Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' is available in the UK, USA and Australia as from 2009. Smaller growing than 'Kay Parris' and again fantastic foliage, but different to others in that the dark green leaves are rounded and cup shaped and quite densely held. Will still grow to 6m, but like both 'Small Gem' and 'Kay Parris' if pruned in winter it can easily be kept more compact. Large white Plants to nearly 20cm.

Author: John Allman
Condition Source: EzineArticles.com
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