Many passionate gardeners want a magnificent magnolia in their possession. But what if the garden is small or you only have a balcony? In this case, you can make do with smaller magnolia varieties.
Which magnolias are small and suitable for small gardens?
Small magnolia varieties such as the star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) reach a maximum height of 1.5 to 3 meters and are ideal for small gardens or balconies. Other small varieties include Burgundy, Burgundy Star, Caerhays Surprise, Centennial and Pickard’s Garnet.
Star magnolias remain comparatively small
Not all magnolias are the same, because some species grow more like a tree and reach heights of six meters or more - and become almost as wide with age. The popular tulip magnolia in particular grows very tall, as do the Kobus magnolia and some varieties of purple magnolia. At the same time, however, magnolias grow very slowly, so such heights can probably only be expected in 15 to 20 years for a newly purchased young plant. An exception, however, are the star magnolias (Magnolia stellata), which are always very small and, depending on the variety, reach maximum heights of between 1.5 and 3 meters. This means that this species is also suitable for keeping in a bucket.
Small magnolia varieties
In the following overview you will find some of the most beautiful and popular small magnolia varieties. Some magnolias (particularly the tulip magnolias) still reach heights of four to five meters, but still appear in this table due to their comparatively narrow to columnar growth. They are also more suitable for small gardens.
| Variety | Art | average height | Flower color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgundy | Tulip Magnolia | between three to five meters | lavender |
| Burgundy Star | Purple Magnolia | up to four meters | violet |
| Caerhays Surprise | Purple Magnolia x Magnolia.campbellii | up to five meters | pink |
| Centennial | Star Magnolia | up to approx. three meters | white |
| Pickard’s Garnet | Tulip Magnolia | up to approx. four meters | purple |
| Satisfaction | Tulip Magnolia | up to approx. two meters | pink red or white |
| Sunsation | Hybrid | up to three meters | yellow |
| lan’s Red | Hybrids | up to five meters | purple |
| Darkest Purple | Purple Magnolia | up to 2.5 meters | dark purple |
| Genius | Tulip Magnolia | up to approx. five meters | violet-red |
| George Henry Kern | Star Magnolia | up to approx. three meters | pink-white |
| Maxine Merrill | Hybrid | up to approx. five meters | yellow |
| Sun Child | Hybrid | up to approx. 2.5 meters | yellow |
Tips & Tricks
With regard to the expected size, however, this is particularly important for refined magnolias and new varieties. The grafting is usually carried out on the very large Kobus magnolia, which is why the actual height for the grafting cannot be predicted. Due to the lack of experience, this also applies to the new varieties of magnolias, although you can use the parent varieties as a guide.
