Database type: Notion Table (paste into a Notion
/tableblock, or import as CSV via Notion's "Import" feature) Purpose: Standalone lookup tool for comparing compact evergreen Magnolia grandiflora cultivars and common alternatives used for hedging/screening in Australian gardens — sortable by height, growth rate, flowering age, and best use.
🌿 Quick Reference — Key Takeaways
- Smallest footprint: Teddy Bear (3–6 m tall, 1.5–2.5 m wide) — best for courtyards, pots, narrow beds.
- Fastest to establish + flower: Little Gem (30–45 cm/yr growth, flowers in 1–2 years) — best for screening/hedging.
- Heaviest bloomer among compacts: Kay Parris — more open habit, less dense foliage than Teddy Bear.
- Standard Southern Magnolia (non-dwarf) reaches 25–30 m — unsuitable for most residential blocks.
- Spacing rule of thumb: hedge plantings 1.5–2 m apart; specimen/feature plantings need 2–2.5 m clearance.
- Climate fit: most compact cultivars suit zones 8–11 — temperate, subtropical, mild-frost, and protected coastal regions.
- #1 troubleshooting cause: yellowing leaves → almost always drainage/pH/overwatering, not pests.
| Cultivar / Species | Type | Mature Height | Mature Width | Growth Rate (per yr) | Growth Habit | Flowering Age | Flower Size | Leaf Underside | Best Use | Frost Tolerance | Container Suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teddy Bear | Dwarf M. grandiflora | 3–6 m | 1.5–2.5 m | 20–30 cm | Upright, columnar | 2–3 yrs | 15–20 cm | Dense rusty-brown | Small gardens, formal, feature specimen | Light frost | Yes — best choice |
| Little Gem | Dwarf M. grandiflora | 4–8 m | 2–4 m | 30–45 cm | Broader, pyramidal | 1–2 yrs | Medium-large | Light brown | Hedging, screening | Light frost | Yes, but prefers ground |
| Kay Parris | Dwarf M. grandiflora | 4–6 m | 2–3 m | Moderate | Open, spreading | 1–2 yrs | Large, abundant | Light | Ornamental flowering | Light frost | Moderate |
| Standard Southern Magnolia | Species M. grandiflora | 25–30 m | 10–15 m | Slow-moderate | Broad, dense canopy | 5–10 yrs | Very large (20–30 cm) | Rusty-brown | Large estates, parks | Moderate | No |
| Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth' | Compact-tall cultivar | 8–12 m | 4–6 m | Moderate | Upright | 3–5 yrs | Large | Brown | Screening, feature tree | Moderate | No |
| Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' (dwarf pot form) | Container cultivar | 2–3 m (potted) | 1–1.5 m | Slow (potted) | Compact | 2–3 yrs (potted) | Medium | Light brown | Patios, balconies | Light frost | Yes |
| Magnolia 'Alta' | Fastigiate dwarf | 6–9 m | 1.5–2 m | Moderate–fast | Very narrow, columnar | 2–3 yrs | Medium | Rusty | Narrow side yards, screens | Light frost | Limited |
| Magnolia 'D.D. Blanchard' | Compact-tall cultivar | 10–13 m | 5–6 m | Moderate | Pyramidal | 3–4 yrs | Large | Deep rusty-brown | Feature/specimen | Moderate | No |
| Magnolia 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' | Compact cultivar | 6–9 m | 3–4 m | Slow–moderate | Dense, pyramidal | 3–4 yrs | Medium-large | Dark brown | Cold-hardy screening | Good (hardier) | No |
| Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' | Non-magnolia hedge alt. | 4–6 m | 2–3 m | 40–60 cm | Upright, glossy | N/A (foliage plant) | N/A | N/A | Fast privacy hedging | Light frost | Yes |
| Photinia 'Robusta' | Non-magnolia hedge alt. | 3–5 m | 2–3 m | 40–60 cm | Dense, rounded | N/A | Small white clusters | N/A | Colourful hedging | Moderate | Yes |
| Lilly Pilly (Syzygium 'Resilience') | Non-magnolia hedge alt. | 3–6 m | 2–3 m | 30–50 cm | Dense, bushy | 2–3 yrs | Small, fluffy white | N/A | Screening, low-maintenance hedge | Good | Yes |
| Camellia sasanqua | Flowering hedge alt. | 2–4 m | 1.5–2.5 m | 20–30 cm | Dense, bushy | 2–3 yrs | Medium, showy | N/A | Flowering privacy screen | Good | Yes |
| Viburnum tinus | Non-magnolia hedge alt. | 2–3 m | 2–3 m | 30–40 cm | Rounded, dense | 1–2 yrs | Small clusters | N/A | Low hedges, borders | Good | Yes |
| Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' (espalier form) | Trained cultivar | 3–4 m (trained) | Wall-dependent | Slow (trained) | Flat, trained | 2–3 yrs | Large | Light | Wall/fence feature | Light frost | No |
| Magnolia figo (Banana Shrub) | Related species | 2–4 m | 2–3 m | Slow | Rounded shrub | 2–3 yrs | Small, fragrant (banana scent) | N/A | Fragrant border shrub | Moderate | Yes |
By mature height (smallest → largest): Magnolia figo (2–4 m) → Viburnum tinus (2–3 m) → Camellia sasanqua (2–4 m) → Teddy Bear potted (2–3 m) → Teddy Bear (3–6 m) → Lilly Pilly (3–6 m) → Photinia (3–5 m) → Kay Parris (4–6 m) → Little Gem (4–8 m) → Pittosporum (4–6 m) → Bracken's Brown Beauty (6–9 m) → Alta (6–9 m) → Exmouth (8–12 m) → D.D. Blanchard (10–13 m) → Standard Southern Magnolia (25–30 m)
By growth speed (fastest → slowest): Pittosporum/Photinia (40–60 cm/yr) → Lilly Pilly (30–50 cm/yr) → Little Gem/Alta (30–45 cm/yr) → Viburnum (30–40 cm/yr) → Teddy Bear/Camellia (20–30 cm/yr) → Bracken's/Magnolia figo (slow)
By primary use case:
Q: Leaves are turning yellow — what's wrong? Usually iron chlorosis from alkaline soil, overwatering, or poor drainage. Improve drainage and apply chelated iron.