Magnolias are a trusted favourite for creating structure, seasonal interest, and a touch of refinement in the garden. With glossy evergreen leaves, upright forms, and showy white blooms, evergreen magnolia trees are ideal for hedging, screening, or using as a single feature tree. Magnolia grandiflora varieties in particular offer year-round beauty and privacy, making them some of the best magnolia trees for hedging and evergreen screening. Best of all, these low maintenance flowering trees require little upkeep once established and suit both formal and informal planting schemes.
Below are five Magnolia grandiflora varieties we consistently recommend. Whether you're planting in rows, framing an entryway, or filling a narrow space, these compact magnolia varieties are reliable evergreen choices that look good year-round and provide excellent garden privacy.
1. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is renowned for its compact size, hardiness, and versatility in both home gardens and larger landscapes. This evergreen magnolia tree offers year-round beauty with its dense, glossy green leaves that are strikingly contrasted by their coppery undersides. Originally developed in the United States, ‘Little Gem’ is prized for being one of the best magnolia varieties for hedging, privacy screens, and even as an elegant specimen tree. Its moderately fast growth, adaptability to various soils, and resistance to pests make it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners seeking reliable evergreen structure. In addition to its stunning foliage, ‘Little Gem’ produces large, fragrant white flowers in summer, attracting pollinators and adding seasonal interest. With its upright habit and manageable size, it fits seamlessly into both formal and informal planting schemes, making it a staple in modern landscape design.
Key Features:
- Height: 4–6m
- Width: 2–3m
- Flowers: Large, white, fragrant
- Foliage: Glossy green with coppery undersides
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Why It’s Special
Tidy upright growth with dense foliage from top to bottom. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is perfect for narrow spaces, evergreen hedging, privacy screens, or pleached rows. As one of the best evergreen screening plants, it’s highly valued for both home gardens and commercial landscaping.
Perfect Pair:
Pair ‘Little Gem’ with Buxus balls for a classic, evergreen look, or add clipped Laurus nobilis ‘Baby Bay’ for a neat, formal edge. For added interest, try Lomandra ‘Tanika’ for soft foliage contrast.
Tips for Planting:
Plant 1.5–2m apart in full sun or part shade with well-draining soil. Mulch well and water to establish. Feed in spring to maintain healthy, glossy growth.
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2. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’ stands out among evergreen screening plants for its compact, symmetrical, and conical growth habit. Originating from Australia, this variety is a favorite for small gardens, courtyards, and urban spaces where a neat silhouette is essential. Its dense, rounded foliage features dark green leaves with a thick, velvety bronze underside, creating unique visual and tactile appeal. ‘Teddy Bear’ magnolia is especially valued for evergreen hedging and privacy screens, as its strong structure provides reliable year-round cover. The upright, creamy white, lemon-scented flowers not only enhance garden fragrance but also attract beneficial pollinators. This compact magnolia variety requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape and is well-suited for low-maintenance, drought-tolerant gardens. Its impressive foliage and tidy form make it an excellent choice for those wanting a lush, evergreen presence with minimal care.
Key Features:
- Height: 4–5m
- Width: 2–3m
- Flowers: Cream-white, upright, lemon-scented
- Foliage: Rounded, dark green with thick bronze undersides
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Why It’s Special:
Neatly conical and easily maintained, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’ is ideal for small gardens, courtyards or along fences where a neat silhouette is desired. This compact magnolia variety is a popular option for evergreen screening and urban privacy.
Perfect Pair:
Pair ‘Teddy Bear’ with Lomandra ‘Tanika’ for flowing, soft texture, or use clipped Westringea spheres for a tidy, modern contrast. Buxus can also be used for a formal touch.
Tips for Planting:
Plant 1.5–2m apart for a dense screen. Prune lightly after flowering to keep its shape. Mulch and water regularly during establishment.
3. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ is highly sought after for its rapid growth rate, bold foliage, and upright structure, making it one of the top fast-growing evergreen magnolia trees for screening and privacy. This cultivar is characterized by its large, wavy-edged, highly glossy dark green leaves that catch and reflect light, giving gardens a polished and vibrant appearance year-round. ‘Kay Parris’ is particularly effective as a garden privacy tree, ideal for those needing a quick solution to create living screens or borders. Its large, fragrant white flowers bloom from late spring through summer, attracting pollinators and elevating the garden’s sensory appeal. Adaptable to a range of soil types and tolerant of wind and urban environments, ‘Kay Parris’ requires only formative shaping in its early years, making it a low-maintenance yet striking choice for contemporary landscape designs.
Key Features:
• Height: 5–7m
• Width: 3–4m
• Flowers: Large, white, fragrant
• Foliage: Highly glossy, dark green with wavy edges
• Growth Rate: Fast
Why It’s Special:
Quicker to establish and ideal where faster screening is needed, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ is a top choice for those seeking a fast-growing evergreen magnolia tree. The glossy foliage has a polished look that catches light well, making it an excellent garden privacy tree and a standout specimen in landscape design.
Perfect Pair:
Line the base of ‘Kay Parris’ with clipped Laurus nobilis for formal structure or Lavandula for fragrance and colour. Lomandra ‘Tanika’ works well for a low-maintenance, grassy edge.
Tips for Planting:
Plant 2–3m apart in full sun for quick screening. Shape lightly when young and feed annually for vigorous growth. Water regularly to establish roots.
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4. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’ is a grand, statuesque variety known for its impressive size, making it ideal for large lawns, boundary planting, and avenue displays. Originally bred in England, ‘Exmouth’ is celebrated for its broad canopy, which provides substantial shade and a commanding evergreen presence in the landscape. Its broad, glossy green leaves and abundant, creamy-white flowers fill the air with classic magnolia fragrance during the warmer months. As a drought tolerant magnolia, ‘Exmouth’ is suitable for a range of climates and soil conditions, thriving with minimal intervention once established. This variety is perfect for use as a shade tree, windbreak, or as a dramatic focal point in expansive gardens. Its resilience, longevity, and ornamental value ensure that ‘Exmouth’ continues to be a preferred choice for large-scale and statement planting.
Key Features:
- Height: 8–12m
- Width: 5–8m
- Flowers: Large, creamy-white
- Foliage: Broad, glossy green
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Why It’s Special:
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’ creates a strong vertical presence and wide shade canopy, excelling as a statement tree for avenue planting or anchoring large garden beds. This drought tolerant magnolia is well suited for larger landscapes where an evergreen privacy screen or shade tree is needed.
Perfect Pair:
Pair ‘Exmouth’ with low-mounded Westringea for structure, or Lomandra ‘Seascape’ for graceful movement and drought tolerance. Myoporum parvifolium is a great groundcover option.
Tips for Planting:
Give ‘Exmouth’ plenty of space (6 to 8 metres apart) for its broad canopy. Water to establish, prune only as needed, and feed in spring for lush growth.
5. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Alta’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Alta’ is a sophisticated, columnar magnolia specifically bred for narrow spaces, making it one of the best evergreen screening plants for modern and urban gardens. Its naturally upright, slim growth habit allows ‘Alta’ to fit into tight planting areas such as along driveways, property boundaries, or between buildings, all while delivering the signature glossy foliage and creamy, lightly scented blooms of the species. This cultivar is valued for its low-maintenance needs, drought tolerance, and ability to provide privacy and dramatic vertical accents in gardens where space is at a premium. As it matures, ‘Alta’ maintains its slender silhouette, making it an ideal garden privacy solution for those wanting height without sacrificing valuable ground space. Its adaptability and elegant appearance make it a favorite for formal rows, clipped screens, and contemporary landscape designs.
Key Features:
- Height: 6–9m
- Width: 2–3m
- Flowers: Creamy white, lightly scented
- Foliage: Upright, compact
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Why It’s Special:
Reliable for slim spaces where width is restricted, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Alta’ is one of the best evergreen screening plants for narrow driveways, formal rows, or clipped screens. Its upright habit makes it a preferred choice for modern garden designs focused on privacy and vertical accents.
Perfect Pair:
Pair ‘Alta’ with Buxus for classic hedging or clipped Teucrium for a silvery, structured contrast. Lomandra ‘Tanika’ adds a softer touch along borders.
Tips for Planting:
Stake young ‘Alta’ trees for a straight, upright form. Plant 1.5–2m apart for screening. Mulch and water to establish, and prune to keep a slender silhouette.
Final Tip
All these Magnolia grandiflora varieties are evergreen, low maintenance once established, and flower reliably in warmer climates. For evergreen hedging or privacy screens, look to ‘Little Gem’, ‘Teddy Bear’, or ‘Alta’. For large statement planting and shade, go with ‘Exmouth’ or ‘Kay Parris’. Underplanting evergreen magnolia trees with contrasting foliage or clipped forms brings out their structure and seasonal changes, enhancing overall landscape design.
