7 Magnolias for pot growing, perfect to brighten small spaces

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

The Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ is a dwarf variety that adapts perfectly to pot culture. Its compact dimensions, ideal for restricted spaces, will not exceed 2.5 metres across. It is the miniature version of the famous large-flowered Magnolia, or tulip magnolia.

‘Little Gem’ is a small jewel that also has the advantage of flowering quite young (you don’t have to wait several years before admiring its first flowers). Throughout the summer, from July to September, it reveals large 15 cm flowers in a tulip shape, bearing a delicate cream-white hue. If each flower is ephemeral, the display is renewed daily. The fragrance is not left out, since this refined flowering exudes pleasant lemony, tangy notes. After flowering, large conical fruits appear, reddish in colour, interesting for their decorative aspect.

With evergreen foliage, this magnolia stays attractive all year round. The leaves are dark green, glossy, with bronze tones on the reverse.

In terms of silhouette, it will form a handsome pyramidal shape.

In sun or partial shade, plant this potted magnolia on your terrace or balcony: you will enjoy it all summer. In northern regions, reserve a warm, bright spot to see it flowering generously.

Hardy to -15°C, this low-maintenance variety will simply require soil rich in organic matter and moisture, i.e., never allowed to dry out completely. Remember that pot culture inevitably requires more regular watering, as the substrate dries out more quickly.

The Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’

The Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’ is a variety prized for its generous star-shaped flowering, which appears at the very start of spring, when the garden is still relatively quiet. The white, double blossoms, composed of numerous petals, reach up to 12 cm. They appear even before the foliage on branches still bare, which will set them off to perfection. Their white colour, subtly enhanced with pink, blends into all kinds of decor. The flowering is fragrant, exhaling lemony and vanilla notes.

This small magnolia is perfect for letting light through during the cold season, thanks to its deciduous foliage, turning yellow before shedding. For the rest of the year, it will dress small spaces with its pretty, rounded habit and well ramified growth. This variety will gradually reach a height of 2.5 m with a slightly narrower spread, making it a perfect choice for container cultivation or in any other large container.

‘Waterlily’ will enjoy sun that is not scorching (partial shade in hot southern regions), in a wind-sheltered site. Plant it in rich, moist soil. Hardy to -25°C, it will withstand the winters in most of our regions.

Hybrid magnolia 'Fairy Blush'

This recently developed Michelia hybrid is a close relative of Magnolias. ‘Fairy Blush’ is a compact variety that will fit easily into small spaces and in pots. Its habit will not exceed 2.5 m in height with a 2 m spread. It will form a compact shrub, slightly upright in habit.

First and foremost, it is valued for its evergreen foliage, tough and glossy, bringing a touch of exotic luxuriance.

Then comes its spring flowering, occurring from March to June, which enchants us. The shrub then bears a multitude of cup-shaped flowers, pale pink to lilac pink, with waxy petals, reaching 6 cm in diameter and emitting a citrusy exotic fragrance.

Hardiness (-12°C) may be a limitation in some of our regions: plan for a fairly sheltered position and a thick mulch to protect it during harsh winters.

As undemanding as Magnolias, this hybrid will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in a light, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter.

Magnolia Michelia ‘Fairy Blush’ © Leonora Enking

Magnolia denudata ‘Sunrise’

The Magnolia denudata ‘Sunrise’ cannot fail to attract attention, with its two-tone flowering. In spring, between April and May, this Chinese-origin variety reveals calyx-shaped flowers, measuring up to 15 cm. They are distinguished by their creamy white colour, seemingly set aflame by a triangle of fuchsia pink at the base of the petals. A bloom of elegance and originality!

It is a deciduous bush, which sheds its leaves in autumn. In terms of habit, this small, compact Magnolia will not exceed 2 metres in all directions. This compact size will allow it to perform well in a large pot or tub, to brighten a terrace, balcony or courtyard.

Hardy and accommodating, ‘Sunrise’ will thrive in sun or partial shade, in moist and fertile soil, in a site sheltered from cold and dry winds.

The Magnolia loebneri 'Mags Pirouette'

What refinement in Magnolia loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’! At the end of winter, this bush rewards us with beautiful, double, densely formed flowers about 10 cm across, displaying a perfectly immaculate white. Their shape is almost reminiscent of delicate water lilies. They appear on bare shoots, as the foliage has not yet returned for the season. This flowering, fragrant, releases delicate lemon notes.

Plan for a spread of about 2.5 metres in all directions for this small, bushy Magnolia, with an upright habit. The green foliage takes on golden hues before retiring in autumn.

Resistant to severe frosts beyond -20°C, this hardy variety, like its congeners, will appreciate a sunny, but not scorching, aspect in cool, fairly rich soil.

Magnolia yunnanensis 'Gail's Favorite'

The Michelia yunnanensis ‘Gail’s Favorite’ is a little-known variety that you won’t often come across in gardens. Yet it does not lack in qualities. Its modest dimensions, reaching 2.5 metres in height and only 1.5 metres wide, make it, first and foremost, a perfect bush for small spaces or areas without in-ground soil for growing plants. Then, it is in spring that the spectacle occurs: our Michelia then adorns itself with numerous cup-shaped white flowers, revealing a heart of golden stamens clearly visible. This gives the shrub a charming country air. They are very fragrant, diffusing around a lemon-scented fragrance.

When flowering finishes, you can enjoy decorative fruits in the form of pink pods, which will open to reveal bright purple seeds. ‘Gail’s Favorite’ also features evergreen foliage, staying green all year round. Its leaves are glossy and tough, with slightly undulating margins. Its upright silhouette, yet very dense and compact, will look wonderful in a pretty pot or in a tub.

Prefer a partly shaded (or sunnier in northern regions) exposure for this small flowering bush. Provide it with fresh, rich and well-drained soil.

Magnolia x foggii ‘Allspice’

Le Magnolia x foggii ‘Allspice’ isn’t suitable for every garden: its hardiness is indeed limited to -6°C. But in Brittany or Normandy, where there are neither severe frosts nor heatwaves, plant it without hesitation! Of course, growing it in a pot will allow easy protection from the cold in regions with harsh winters. It will then simply need to be kept in a greenhouse or conservatory.

In late summer, from May to July, enjoy its bright flowering. The cup-shaped flowers display a creamy white, refined shade, highlighted by glossy dark-green evergreen foliage. Very fragrant, as with all Michelia, this flowering will delight the senses.

Plant this small hybrid, 2.50 m tall with a 1.20 m spread, in a container: it will look attractive all year round and add a touch of exoticism.

Place it in light sun, in a sheltered spot away from cold winds, which are detrimental to its flowering and its foliage. Water regularly to prevent the substrate from drying out completely, especially in summer and/or when there is a lack of rainfall.