Top 9 Magnolia Trees for Evergreen Planting

Five evergreen Magnolias that hold their leaves, shape and flower power year round in Australian gardens.

EvergreenFeature TreeHedging and ScreeningMagnolia

Evergreen Magnolias are the most recognised feature trees in Australian gardens, and for one reason: they deliver dense glossy dark green foliage year-round, fragrant white summer flowers, and a clean architectural form without ever dropping bare in winter. While deciduous Magnolias like soulangeana give you a spectacular spring flower show then a leafless winter, the evergreen Magnolia grandiflora cultivars hold their dense canopy through every season.

This guide covers the nine M. grandiflora cultivars we recommend most often for Australian gardens. They range from the compact 4m 'Teddy Bear' for tight gardens, up to the 12m statuesque 'Exmouth' for grand boundary planting - and the dwarf 'Sweet n Neat' at the smallest end for courtyards and pots. Each one carries the M. grandiflora signature: glossy leathery leaves with copper or rust felted undersides, large fragrant white summer blooms, and dense year-round screening.

The nine evergreen Magnolias we recommend

Each tree below appears as a numbered card beneath this guide, with mature size, foliage characteristics, and the specific reason each cultivar stands out. Tap any plant name to head straight to the product page.

Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' - Compact 4 to 5m with cinnamon-felted undersides. Screens from the ground up. Best for compact formal hedges and front-of-house features.
Magnolia 'Little Gem' - Compact 4 to 6m, full Magnolia presence at half the footprint. Best for narrow side gardens and small block screens.
Magnolia 'Alta' - Narrow columnar 6 to 8m but only 1.5 to 2m wide. The only Magnolia for tight side spaces and narrow pathways.
Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' - Medium-large 5 to 8m with the highest gloss of any cultivar. Best for formal feature trees where shine matters.
Magnolia 'Exmouth' - The grand classic 8 to 12m statuesque form with oversized leaves and flowers. Best for large gardens, avenue planting and council-scale projects.
Magnolia 'Supergem' - Mid-sized 5 to 7m. Fills the gap between Little Gem and Coolwyn Gloss. Best for medium gardens.
Magnolia 'Kay Parris' - 4 to 6m with burgundy new growth that ages to glossy green. Best for feature trees with year-round colour interest.
Magnolia 'Greenback' - Large 8 to 10m with particularly dark glossy leaves. Best for larger gardens at mid-large scale.
Magnolia 'Sweet n Neat' - The smallest evergreen Magnolia (2 to 3m). Dwarf habit for tiny gardens, courtyards and large pots.

How to choose at a glance

If you know what you are looking for, this is the fastest way to decide which Magnolia suits your garden:

Compact formal hedge → Teddy Bear or Little Gem (both 4 to 6m, both clip into a hedge)
Narrow side bed or tight pathway → Alta (narrow columnar, 1.5 to 2m wide)
Highest gloss for formal presentation → Coolwyn Gloss (5 to 8m, mirror-finish leaves)
Grand statement, avenue or council planting → Exmouth (the grand 8 to 12m classic)
Mid-sized garden feature → Supergem (5 to 7m)
Year-round colour interest from new growth → Kay Parris (burgundy new growth, 4 to 6m)
Large garden feature at mid-large scale → Greenback (8 to 10m, particularly dark gloss)
Tiny garden, courtyard or large pot → Sweet n Neat (the smallest, 2 to 3m)

How to choose an evergreen Magnolia

Year-round dense foliage

Unlike deciduous Magnolias that drop bare in winter, the evergreen Magnolia grandiflora cultivars hold their dense glossy canopy through every season. This is the single biggest reason customers choose evergreen over deciduous.

Glossy waxy leaf surfaces

All five cultivars carry thick, leathery, wax-coated leaves with characteristic copper or rust felted undersides. The wax surface gives that distinctive Magnolia shine and physically protects the foliage from harsh sun and wind.

Fragrant summer flowers

Large creamy-white blooms appear from late spring through summer. Each flower lasts only a few days but they appear in flushes - by the time one round finishes, the next is opening. The fragrance is unmistakable.

Compact and large options

The cultivars in this guide range from compact 4m Teddy Bear and Little Gem (perfect for tight gardens) to the 12m Exmouth (for grand boundaries and parks). Match the mature size to your space.

Reliable in Australian conditions

Every cultivar in this guide is proven in Australian climates - tested through hot summers, cool winters and variable rainfall. These are not experimental imports - they are nursery standards.

Low maintenance once established

Evergreen Magnolias are slow steady growers that need minimal pruning. A light tip prune every couple of years and an annual mulch is all most cultivars require.

1. Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' (Teddy Bear Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' is named for the rich rust-cinnamon felt covering the underside of every leaf - visible every time a breeze rolls through the canopy. The densely packaged compact habit screens from the ground up (unusual in the Magnolia family) and makes Teddy Bear one of the most reliable evergreen Magnolias for formal hedging. Glossy dark green leaves above, cinnamon felted undersides below, and large fragrant white blooms across summer. The compact 4 to 5m mature size suits tight gardens.

Type: Evergreen feature and hedging tree
Height: 4 to 5 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Dark green above with cinnamon felted undersides
Flowers: Large fragrant white blooms across summer
Form: Densely upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low, can be pruned to desired height
Best for: Front of house feature, formal screens and avenue planting.

Why choose it

Distinctive cinnamon-felted leaf undersides give Teddy Bear its name and its trademark two-tone look. Densely packaged habit screens from ground level up - unusual in Magnolias. Compact mature size suits tight gardens, and the dense form clips into a formal hedge or stands as a front-of-house feature.

Perfect pair

Use Teddy Bear as a compact formal hedge with a Magnolia 'Little Gem' Standard as a sculpted feature out front.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense formal hedge. Water in deeply through the first two summers. Mulch 75mm out to the dripline. Light tip prune for shape after flowering.

Compact, dense and unmistakable from a distance.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'

2. Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' (Little Gem Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Little Gem' is the compact form of the southern evergreen Magnolia, bred specifically for smaller gardens. Reaches just 4 to 6m mature height with a tight 2 to 3m spread - half the footprint of larger cultivars. Glossy dark green leaves with bronze undersides hold dense colour year-round, and fragrant creamy-white blooms appear from spring through summer. The compact habit makes it one of the few Magnolias suitable as a clipped formal hedge, or as a single feature in tight side gardens.

Type: Evergreen feature and hedging tree
Height: 4 to 6 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Dark green with bronze undersides
Flowers: Fragrant creamy-white blooms from spring through summer
Form: Compact upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low, can be pruned to desired height
Best for: Narrow side gardens, courtyards, and small block screens. Suitable for hedging.

Why choose it

The compact evergreen Magnolia of choice for narrow gardens. Delivers full Magnolia presence - glossy dense foliage, fragrant summer flowers, year-round screening - at half the footprint of larger cultivars. Can be hedged or grown as a single feature.

Perfect pair

Line the boundary with Little Gem then place a Magnolia x soulangeana as a deciduous feature out front.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense formal hedge. Water deeply through the first two summers. Stake young trees in windy spots. Light tip prune in late spring to maintain shape.

The dependable small-block Magnolia.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

3. Magnolia grandiflora 'Alta' (Alta Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Alta' is the narrow columnar evergreen Magnolia - the standout choice when you want a Magnolia feature tree in a tight space. Stays just 1.5 to 2m wide at maturity while reaching 6 to 8m tall, which solves a problem no other Magnolia can: feature-tree presence in narrow side gardens, tight pathways, and courtyards where standard cultivars would simply not fit. Same glossy dark green leaves and fragrant white summer flowers as the larger forms, on a slim upright silhouette.

Type: Narrow columnar evergreen feature tree
Height: 6 to 8m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 1.5 to 2m
Foliage: Glossy dark green with cinnamon-bronze undersides
Flowers: Fragrant white blooms in summer
Form: Tight columnar upright
Best for: Narrow side gardens, tight courtyards, pathways and avenue planting where width is restricted.

Why choose it

The only narrow columnar evergreen Magnolia. Stays under 2m wide at maturity while reaching 6 to 8m tall - solves a tight-space problem no other cultivar can. Full Magnolia presence in a slim upright form.

Perfect pair

Plant a row of Alta as a narrow avenue along a side path, with a Little Gem or Teddy Bear hedge as the lower companion.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use 1m spacing for a tight columnar avenue. Water deeply through the first two summers. Light tip prune for shape - the columnar habit largely maintains itself.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Alta'

4. Magnolia grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss' (Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' is the glossiest of all evergreen Magnolias. Mirror-finish dark green leaves catch and reflect light like polished glass - a signature look that sets Coolwyn Gloss apart from every other M. grandiflora cultivar. The upright dense form, rich glossy foliage, and large fragrant white summer flowers make it one of the cleanest, most refined evergreen feature trees available. Holds year-round screening density without ever dropping bare in winter.

Type: Evergreen feature and screening tree
Height: 5 to 8 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Large glossy dark green leaves with a bronze underside
Flowers: Large fragrant white blooms in summer
Form: Upright pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low, light tip prune in late spring
Best for: Statement screens, formal driveways and gardens where high-shine foliage matters.

Why choose it

The highest leaf gloss of any evergreen Magnolia. Mirror-finish dark green leaves on an upright dense form. Reliable year-round screening with large fragrant white summer flowers. One of the cleanest looking formal feature trees money can buy.

Perfect pair

Use a row of Coolwyn Gloss as the formal screen with a Magnolia 'Kay Parris' as the corner feature for burgundy colour contrast.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use 1.5m spacing for a continuous screen. Water deeply through the first two summers. Mulch generously out to the dripline. Avoid hot west-facing positions with reflected heat.

The shiniest evergreen Magnolia you can plant.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss'

5. Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth' (Exmouth Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Exmouth' is the grand classic Southern Magnolia, the cultivar that established Magnolia grandiflora as a global feature tree. Reaches 8 to 12m at maturity with a broad pyramidal form, oversized glossy dark green leaves, and the largest fragrant white blooms of any cultivar in this guide. Ideal for large gardens, parks, council and avenue planting where you want true grandeur and statuesque year-round presence. Give it room and Exmouth becomes one of the most impressive evergreen feature trees you can grow.

Type: Evergreen feature and large screening tree
Height: 8 to 12 m
Width: 4 to 6 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Large glossy dark green with copper-felted undersides
Flowers: Very large fragrant white blooms across summer
Form: Broad pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low, prune only for shape
Best for: Large gardens, parks, council and avenue planting.

Why choose it

The most statuesque evergreen Magnolia. Oversized leaves and the largest fragrant flowers of any cultivar in this guide. Broad pyramidal form and 8 to 12m mature height give true grandeur. The classic Southern Magnolia for grand planting.

Perfect pair

Anchor a long boundary with Exmouth and underplant with Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or 'Little Gem' as a layered lower hedge.

Tips for planting

Give it room - Exmouth needs space to develop. Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Use 3m spacing for an avenue planting. Water deeply through the first two summers. Avoid planting near small driveways or service pipes.

The grand evergreen Magnolia for large blocks.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth'

6. Magnolia grandiflora 'Supergem' (Supergem Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Supergem' is a mid-sized evergreen Magnolia that bridges the gap between the compact Little Gem (4-6m) and the larger Coolwyn Gloss (5-8m). The upright compact habit, glossy dark green leaves with bronze undersides, and large fragrant white summer flowers make Supergem one of the most reliable mid-sized evergreen feature trees for Australian gardens. Suits medium gardens where Little Gem feels too small and Coolwyn Gloss feels too large.

Type: Evergreen feature tree
Height: 5 to 7m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 2.5 to 3.5m
Foliage: Glossy dark green with bronze undersides
Flowers: Large fragrant white blooms in summer
Form: Upright compact
Best for: Medium gardens needing a properly-scaled evergreen Magnolia feature tree.

Why choose it

Mid-sized evergreen Magnolia that fills the gap between compact Little Gem and larger Coolwyn Gloss. Upright compact habit, glossy dark foliage, and large fragrant summer flowers. Best for medium gardens needing a feature tree with proper scale.

Perfect pair

Plant Supergem as a mid-garden feature with a Westringia or Bay 'Miles Choice' lower hedge as the supporting screen.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use 1.5m spacing for a continuous screen. Water deeply through the first two summers. Mulch generously to the dripline.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Supergem'

7. Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' (Kay Parris Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Kay Parris' is the most visually active of the evergreen Magnolias. New growth emerges in rich burgundy, then matures to glossy dark green, giving the tree a constant two-tone look as fresh growth flushes and ages. Wavy-edged leaves with rust-felted undersides add textural interest. Reaches 4 to 6m with an upright pyramidal habit, and produces fragrant creamy-white blooms from late spring through summer. Ideal where year-round colour interest matters.

Type: Evergreen feature and screening tree
Height: 4 to 6 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Wavy glossy dark green with burgundy new growth and rust-felted undersides
Flowers: Fragrant creamy-white from late spring through summer
Form: Upright pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low, light prune for shape
Best for: Feature tree planting where year round colour interest is important.

Why choose it

The constantly refreshing burgundy new growth keeps Kay Parris more visually active than other evergreen Magnolias. Two-tone canopy throughout the year as fresh growth flushes and ages. Wavy-edged leaves add textural interest, and the upright pyramidal habit makes it a strong garden feature.

Perfect pair

Plant a Kay Parris as the front-garden feature with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' hedge behind it for layered screening.

Tips for planting

Position in morning sun for the brightest new growth colour (afternoon shade is fine). Plant in well-drained slightly acidic soil. Water deeply through establishment. Light prune after flowering to maintain shape. Mulch annually.

The Magnolia that always looks like something is happening.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris'

8. Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' (Greenback Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Greenback' is the dark-leaved evergreen Magnolia cultivar, named for the particularly deep glossy green of the upper leaf surface. Reaches 8 to 10m at maturity (between the compact cultivars and the grand Exmouth), with a broad upright pyramidal form. The intensely dark glossy foliage contrasts strikingly with the cinnamon-bronze felted undersides, and the large fragrant white summer flowers complete the picture. A strong reliable performer for larger gardens wanting a classic feature without the full grandeur of Exmouth.

Type: Large evergreen feature tree
Height: 8 to 10m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 4 to 5m
Foliage: Particularly dark glossy green leaves with cinnamon-bronze undersides
Flowers: Large fragrant white blooms in summer
Form: Broad upright pyramidal
Best for: Larger gardens wanting a dark glossy classic feature tree at mid-large scale.

Why choose it

Particularly dark glossy green leaves give Greenback its name and its distinctive look. Mid-large form (8-10m) sits between the compact cultivars and the grand Exmouth. Reliable classic feature tree for larger gardens.

Perfect pair

Anchor a larger property with Greenback and underplant with Magnolia 'Little Gem' or 'Teddy Bear' as a layered lower hedge.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use 2m spacing for an avenue planting. Water deeply through the first two summers. Mulch generously to the dripline.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

9. Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet n Neat' (Sweet n Neat Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Sweet n Neat' is the smallest evergreen Magnolia in cultivation, reaching just 2 to 3m mature height with a tight 1.5 to 2m spread. The dwarf habit makes it the ideal Magnolia for tiny gardens, courtyards, balcony pots, and tight side beds where even Little Gem would be too large. Glossy dark green leaves with bronze undersides hold dense colour year-round, and fragrant cream-white blooms appear from late spring through summer. The full Magnolia signature - oversized fragrant flowers, evergreen screening, classic foliage - delivered at the smallest scale available.

Type: Dwarf evergreen feature tree
Height: 2 to 3m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 1.5 to 2m
Foliage: Glossy dark green with bronze undersides
Flowers: Fragrant cream-white blooms in summer
Form: Compact rounded
Best for: Tiny gardens, courtyards, balcony pots, and tight side beds.

Why choose it

The smallest evergreen Magnolia available. 2 to 3m mature size makes it the only Magnolia suitable for tiny gardens, courtyards, balcony pots, and tight side beds. Full Magnolia signature at the smallest scale.

Perfect pair

Plant Sweet n Neat as the front-garden feature with a Westringia or Murraya low hedge as the supporting structure.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Suitable for large containers (200L+) with consistent watering. Use 1m spacing for a low hedge. Light prune in late spring after flowering to maintain shape.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet n Neat'

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' Teddy Bear Magnolia	4 to 5 m	2 to 3 m	Densely upright	Dark green above with cinnamon felted undersides	Front of house feature, formal screens and avenue planting.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' Little Gem Magnolia	4 to 6 m	2 to 3 m	Compact upright	Dark green with bronze undersides	Narrow side gardens, courtyards, and small block screens. Suitable for hedging.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Alta' Alta Magnolia	6 to 8m (can be pruned to desired height)	1.5 to 2m	Tight columnar upright	Glossy dark green with cinnamon-bronze undersides	Narrow side gardens, tight courtyards, pathways and avenue planting where width is restricted.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss' Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia	5 to 8 m	3 to 4 m	Upright pyramidal	Large glossy dark green leaves with a bronze underside	Statement screens, formal driveways and gardens where high-shine foliage matters.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth' Exmouth Magnolia	8 to 12 m	4 to 6 m	Broad pyramidal	Large glossy dark green with copper-felted undersides	Large gardens, parks, council and avenue planting.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Supergem' Supergem Magnolia	5 to 7m (can be pruned to desired height)	2.5 to 3.5m	Upright compact	Glossy dark green with bronze undersides	Medium gardens needing a properly-scaled evergreen Magnolia feature tree.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' Kay Parris Magnolia	4 to 6 m	2 to 3 m	Upright pyramidal	Wavy glossy dark green with burgundy new growth and rust-felted undersides	Feature tree planting where year round colour interest is important.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' Greenback Magnolia	8 to 10m (can be pruned to desired height)	4 to 5m	Broad upright pyramidal	Particularly dark glossy green leaves with cinnamon-bronze undersides	Larger gardens wanting a dark glossy classic feature tree at mid-large scale.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet n Neat' Sweet n Neat Magnolia	2 to 3m (can be pruned to desired height)	1.5 to 2m	Compact rounded	Glossy dark green with bronze undersides	Tiny gardens, courtyards, balcony pots, and tight side beds.

How to plant and care for them

Best time to plant

Autumn and spring are the strongest windows for evergreen Magnolias. Autumn planting lets the roots establish through cool conditions ahead of summer heat. Spring planting also works well - water consistently as the weather warms.

Spacing for a hedge or screen

Use the 1m rule of thumb between plants for the compact cultivars (Little Gem, Teddy Bear, Kay Parris). For Coolwyn Gloss space 1.5m apart, and for Exmouth space 3m apart given its mature size.

Soil preparation

Magnolias prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Improve heavy clay with compost and gypsum. Avoid raising soil level around the trunk during planting - Magnolias dislike buried root flares.

Watering through establishment

Water deeply two to three times a week for the first two summers. Morning and evening watering for the first two weeks in summer helps establishment. After year two, Magnolias are largely self-sustaining.

Mulch generously

A 75mm ring of organic mulch around the dripline (kept clear of the trunk) holds moisture, moderates soil temperature, and feeds the soil biology over time. Top up annually.

Light pruning to maintain shape

Evergreen Magnolias do not need heavy pruning. Light tip prune in late spring after flowering to maintain a clean shape. Avoid hard pruning in autumn or winter.

The wrap up

Evergreen Magnolias deliver something few other feature trees can: dense glossy foliage year-round, large fragrant summer flowers, and a clean architectural form. The nine cultivars in this guide cover every garden size and design priority - from the 2m dwarf Sweet n Neat to the 12m grand Exmouth, with narrow columnar Alta for tight spaces and burgundy-leafed Kay Parris for year-round colour interest in between.

All nine carry the M. grandiflora signature: glossy waxy leaves with copper or rust felted undersides, large fragrant white blooms through summer, and dense year-round screening that holds shape decade after decade. Browse live availability in our evergreen tree and feature tree collections, or get in touch and we can match the right Magnolia to your garden size and design priority.