On the downside, the root system tends to be robust and shallow, so it isn’t the best option for next to sidewalks or driveways.
But give it a nice garden or lawn to spread out in and you’ll enjoy a towering treat.
10. Henry Hicks
‘Henry Hicks’ might be a M. virginiana cultivar, but it’s not about to shed its leaves in the cold.
This cultivar will remain evergreen all the way down to Zone 5b.
The whitish-gray undersides of the leaves flash and dance in the breeze, and when it’s in bloom, you’ll have trouble looking away!
The flowers can persist all summer long and are heavily fragrant. The trees are narrow, growing up to 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide.
11. Kay Parris
If you ask any magnolia expert or hobbyist to name one of the best evergreen magnolias, M. grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ is going to be on the list.
‘Kay Parris’ was introduced by Gilbert Nurseries after Kevin Parris found an aggregate of follicles – that is, the colorful cone of arils or seeds – among a batch of ‘Little Gem’ cuttings he was working with in 1991.
He told himself that if any of the seedlings were promising, he’d name them after his mother, who had recently passed away.
And one seedling did indeed turn out to be promising. It had wavy, narrow leaves, flowered young, and had a pleasing growth pattern.
He believes the seedling that ultimately became ‘Kay Parris’ was a cross between ‘Little Gem’ and ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty.’
It became extremely popular in South Carolina by 2000, and rapidly spread from there.
Today, this cultivar is celebrated for its flowers that last all summer, its drought tolerance, the appealing wavy margins of the leaves, and the velvety undersides that just demand to be touched.
‘Kay Parris’
‘Kay Parris’ has a dense growth habit and matures quickly to a height of 30 feet and a 15-foot spread.
It’s even winter hardy enough to survive down to Zone 6. You can find ‘Kay Parris’ available at Nature Hills Nursery.
12. Little Gem
‘Little Gem’ is a hugely popular M. grandiflora cultivar. It has captured hearts and a spot in many gardens across the globe thanks to its compact, narrow form and glossy dark green foliage.
The leaves are a bit smaller than those of the species, with matte, faintly bronze or green undersides.
We have nurseryman Warren Steed to thank for this gem. He bred it in Candor, North Carolina from a chance seedling in 1952 and released it to market in 1966.
If you’re interested in southern magnolias, but you don’t have the space they typically require, this is a perfect option because it only grows to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide at most, often remaining much smaller.
Plus, it takes a long time to get there, reaching its full size after 20 years or more.
‘Little Gem’
You can train it as espalier, let it take front and center in the garden, or plant a few as a tall border. Those neighbors with the ugly yard? Block ‘em out!
Pop over to Fast Growing Trees to snag yourself a ‘Little Gem’ tree in a variety of sizes.
13. Majestic Beauty
The leaves of M. grandiflora ‘Majestic Beauty’ live up to their name.
They’re dark green, extra glossy, and grow up to nine inches long, practically eclipsing the eight-inch creamy white flowers.