Magnolia grandiflora (Evergreen Magnolia)

A very dramatic evergreen tree with great big glossy leaves and huge fragrant white flowers. ‘Leathery’ isn’t a kind description but the foliage of these small trees has the thickness and shine of a really high quality hide, and they do look very swanky, all deep green and polished. Each new leaf unfurls from a rhubarb-y toned bract (leaf sheath) and the combo of pink and glossy green is gorgeous. These are very variable trees, with a natural inclination to grow low-and-broad with strong, horizontal boughs. A great subject for creative pruning and training, M. grandiflora will respond really well to having their lower branches trimmed to encourage a taller and more slender form, with a dense crown and a stately silhouette. Or just leave them to it. Excellent specimen tree for year-round architectural impact.

Introduced from the Southern USA in the 18th Century, old wisdom advises growing against a sunny wall. While they do love this, and will clad a bare wall most handsomely, we’ve been growing them long enough to know they’ll grow almost anywhere as long as you’re not too mean to them. 

They are slow to establish, but otherwise long lived and robust.