Teddy Bear magnolia

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowers best with plenty of sun. Choose a sheltered position away from cold, drying winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing. Established trees tolerate short dry spells, but water deeply during prolonged drought, especially in hot climates.

Soil

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably acidic to neutral. Avoid waterlogged ground and very chalky soil.

Height

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m), potentially taller with age in favourable climates

Spread

8-15 ft (2.4-4.5 m)

Flowers

Large, fragrant, creamy-white flowers from late spring through summer, sometimes continuing into early autumn in warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Thick, glossy, dark-green leaves with rounded tips, slightly cupped edges and dense cinnamon-brown felt underneath. Older leaves shed throughout the year, particularly in spring.

Growth

Slow to moderate; slower in cool climates or dry soil.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level; allow space for the mature crown rather than relying on repeated clipping.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons, wetting the whole root ball and surrounding soil.
• Maintain a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Avoid digging beneath the canopy because the fleshy, shallow roots are easily damaged.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove ties once the tree is anchored.

Pruning. Prune lightly after the main flowering flush in summer, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and shortening only wayward shoots. Avoid hard pruning and topping, which spoil its natural shape and can leave large wounds.

Spring

Plant in cooler regions once the soil is workable and severe frost has passed; water thoroughly.

Spring

Refresh mulch and apply a light feed only if needed.

Late spring

Check young shoots and leaf undersides for scale insects, and inspect new growth for frost damage.

Summer

Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially while the tree is establishing.

Summer

After the main flower flush, remove damaged or awkward branches if necessary.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while soil remains warm; keep fallen leaves off lawns and paths.

Winter

Check stakes and ties, and protect recently planted trees from cold, drying winds.

• Use as a small specimen tree in a lawn or generous planting bed where its dense outline can be seen.
• Plant as an evergreen screen, allowing enough spacing for mature crowns rather than creating a tightly clipped hedge.
• Place beside a terrace, with room for the canopy, so the summer fragrance can be enjoyed.
• Combine with shade-tolerant groundcovers beneath the outer canopy for a layered woodland edge.
• Use its dark foliage as a year-round backdrop to white flowers and pale paving.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Architectural minimal, Formal, Modern courtyard, Traditional and White garden.

Plant it with: Camellias, Azaleas, Oakleaf hydrangeas, Lilyturf, Cast-iron plants and Autumn ferns.

Wildlife: Flowers attract beetles and other insects. Cone-like fruits can expose red seeds eaten by birds, while the dense evergreen crown provides shelter and nesting cover.

• Scale insects and sooty mould: inspect twigs and leaf undersides; use a suitable horticultural oil at the labelled timing, avoiding heat and drought stress.
• Yellow leaves with green veins: alkaline soil can limit iron uptake; test the soil, improve root conditions and use chelated iron if indicated.
• Root rot and decline: avoid waterlogged sites and deep planting; improve drainage before planting rather than repeatedly watering a struggling tree.
• Brown leaf edges or winter scorch: water during dry periods, maintain mulch and shelter young trees from cold winds; wait for new growth before removing damaged wood.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. The leaves, flowers and seeds are not food; eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

• Little Gem magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem')

  Usually has narrower, more pointed leaves and a looser outline; Teddy Bear has broader, rounder, more cupped leaves and a particularly dense habit.

• Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

  The ordinary species becomes a much larger, broader tree and generally has longer leaves; Teddy Bear is a selected compact form.

• Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

  Has thinner leaves with silvery rather than rusty-brown undersides, smaller flowers, and may lose much or all of its foliage in colder climates.

Magnolia honours the French botanist Pierre Magnol, grandiflora means large-flowered, and Teddy Bear refers to the soft brown covering on the leaf undersides.

Propagation. Usually propagated by specialist growers using leafy cuttings under mist or by grafting. Seedlings do not retain the cultivar's compact form reliably; check local plant-protection restrictions before propagating it.

Accepted botanical name

Magnolia grandiflora

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Puerto Rico.

Native range

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 6.5. Average height 2450 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.