Magnolia grandiflora Nana

The Magnolia grandiflora Nana (praecox) is a variety of small-sized laurel-tulip tree, well-suited for small gardens and container cultivation, and also known for its ability to flower from a young age and throughout a long summer period. This variety closely resembles the Magnolia Galissonnière, but its evergreen leaves, rust-coloured on the underside, are smaller and undulate, and it will not exceed 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height after many years of cultivation. Its large white flowers emit a pleasant lemon fragrance.

Native to the Southeastern United States, the Magnolia grandiflora thrives in light, warmth, humidity, and rich, deep soil. Its range extends from Texas to Virginia, passing through northern and central Florida. In France, this magnolia is hardy up to the Île-de-France region, although it may suffer in the harshest winters. The further north, the less it flowers. 'Nana' (also known as praecox) is a cultivar selected for its particularly slow growth, dense vegetation, small size, and rapid flowering. At maturity (around 15 years), it will not exceed 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in height, with a spread of 1.50m (4 ft 11 in), forming a well-branched pyramid throughout its height. Flowering occurs in summer, from June to August-September. The large solitary flowers, resembling 15cm (5.9 in) diameter tulips, consist of thick, pure white petals, open around a cone covered in yellow stamens. Each flower only lasts for one day on the tree, but they continuously renew. This flowering is followed by the formation of large reddish cones, quite decorative, revealing red seeds. The evergreen leaves are alternate, simple, entire, leathery, slightly undulate at the edges, and 15cm (0 and 5.9 in) long. They are dark and glossy green on the upper side, rusty on the underside.

The Magnolia grandiflora 'Nana' will find its place, of course, as a solitary specimen in a small garden, but also in a large container on the terrace. Choose a strategic location in the garden to be able to admire this wonderful small tree, perhaps the most beautiful of all evergreens, and thus enjoy its intensely lemon-scented flowering. It could be paired, for example, with another small-sized, deciduous magnolia with spring flowering, such as the Magnolia 'George Henry Kern'. This magnolia lends itself well to topiary art and can be shaped like a pyramid, placed, for example, on either side of a grand stone staircase.