Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' - Evergreen Trees Direct

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Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

$400.00

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Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L 150L 200L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 0.9m – 1.4m Approx.
100L: Enquire within for height guide information.
150L: Enquire within for height guide information.
200L: 1.7m – 2m Approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 15m (approx.)

Mature Width: 8m to 10m

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is an evergreen cultivar of the Southern Magnolia with thick, glossy leaves that stay green on the underside rather than the rusty brown of most cultivars, which is where the name comes from. Growth is dense and upright. Large, fragrant, creamy white flowers open through late spring and summer.

Grow it in full sun to partial shade in most reasonable soils, ideally slightly acidic and well drained. It suits temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens, tolerates urban conditions and is moderately drought hardy once established. Growth is moderate at 20 to 40 centimetres a year. Water regularly through the first two summers and in long dry spells.

The dense habit makes it a strong privacy screen or windbreak, planted 2.5 to 3 metres apart for an informal screen or 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a tighter clipped hedge. It also stands alone as a formal upright specimen. Evergreen cover at 10 to 15 metres is hard to beat on a boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Greenback Magnolia

What is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'?

It is an evergreen selection of the Southern Magnolia with thick, glossy leaves that stay green on the underside instead of the rusty brown found on most cultivars, which is where the name comes from. It has a dense, upright habit and produces large, fragrant, creamy white flowers through the warmer months.

How big does Greenback Magnolia grow?

It reaches 10 to 15 metres tall and 8 to 10 metres wide in most gardens, and can push to 18 or 20 metres in deep soil with good moisture. That is a broad crown at maturity, so give it clear room away from buildings and boundaries. Trimming will hold it at any height above about 2 metres.

Is it evergreen?

Yes, it holds foliage all year and does not go bare in winter. Older leaves are shed gradually through the year rather than all at once, so there is a light ongoing leaf drop rather than a seasonal one. The leaves are thick and slow to break down, which is worth knowing near pools.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Space plants 2.5 to 3 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a tighter formal hedge that you keep clipped. For a row of individual trees rather than a solid screen, 6 metres apart lets each crown show its shape. Closer planting fills faster but the plants compete for water.

Does it need sun or shade?

Full sun to partial shade both work. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest flowering, which matters if you are relying on it as a screen. In partial shade it grows a little more openly. It will take half a day of shade from a building or neighbouring trees without thinning badly.

Is it drought tolerant?

Once established it is moderately drought tolerant and copes with normal dry summers in temperate and subtropical gardens. The thick waxy leaves reduce water loss. It is not a plant for unirrigated arid sites, and a young plant needs regular water through its first two summers before you can leave it to fend for itself.

How do I prune and care for it?

Trim in late summer or early autumn after flowering, taking the tips back to shape rather than cutting into bare wood. Feed in early spring with a fertiliser suited to acid loving plants, and mulch the root zone. Water regularly through the establishment period and during long dry spells. Little else is required.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Screening or Privacy
Shade Tree
Council or Civic Landscapes

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' Evergreen or Deciduous?

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 15m (approx.)

Mature Width: 8m to 10m

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' frost tolerant?

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' Flower?

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Greenback’ produces large, creamy-white, cup-shaped flowers from late spring through summer, with a light citrus fragrance. These classic magnolia blooms contrast beautifully with the glossy deep green foliage and its characteristic pale green—rather than bronze—leaf underside, creating an elegant and refined seasonal display.

Does Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring
Summer

Flower Type:

Fragrant
Pollinator-attracting

Flower Colour:

White

Is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' an Australian Native Tree?

No

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is Native to A selected cultivar of Magnolia grandiflora, originally native to the southeastern United States, bred for its ornamental foliage and flowers.

What is the Wildlife Value of Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' ?

Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, beetles and other pollinating insects, while the dense evergreen foliage provides excellent shelter and nesting habitat for small birds. The seed-filled cones that follow flowering also support wildlife and contribute to biodiversity in urban and ornamental plantings.

How much Sunlight does Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' need?

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Greenback’ performs best in well-drained, slightly acidic loam or sandy loam soils. It may struggle in heavy clay, alkaline or poorly drained sites unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance soil structure and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then maintain deep, occasional watering as the tree matures to support dense evergreen growth, strong root development and reliable flowering.

Is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' Drought Tolerant?

Is Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established ‘Greenback’ develops good drought tolerance. It performs reliably in warm, dry and coastal conditions and maintains its dense evergreen canopy with deep, occasional watering during prolonged dry spells.

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How To Plant Your Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback'

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, keep the root zone consistently moist with weekly deep watering and additional water during hot dry spells.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for scale or sooty mould in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' in Different Soil

Magnolia grandiflora performs best in rich, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic pH and consistent moisture. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage and organic matter are managed well.

Sandy soil: Free-draining but enrich heavily with compost and mulch deeply to hold moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent flowering.

pH: Slightly acidic preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter or pine bark to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

When is the optimal time to plant Magnolia 'Greenback'?
Early spring or fall is the best time to plant, as the milder temperatures help the roots to establish.
How often should I water my Greenback Magnolia?
Water regularly, especially during the establishment period and in times of drought.
Is Magnolia 'Greenback' prone to any pests or diseases?
While relatively hardy, it can sometimes be affected by scale insects or leaf spot. Regular inspection and maintenance can help prevent these issues.
Can the Greenback Magnolia be pruned into a hedge?
Yes, it responds well to pruning and can be shaped into a formal hedge or screen.
What are the key advantages of choosing Magnolia 'Greenback'?
Its evergreen nature, dense foliage for privacy, and the classic beauty of occasional magnolia flowers make it a versatile and attractive choice for many landscapes.