Magnolia Popular Hedge Row Tree

A Note About Magnolia Hedges

If you want a true thick hedge plant the magnolias as close as you want. However, if at their state of maximum height and width and you want to appreciate their shape, which is one of the important reasons to grow them, S-P-R-E-A-D them out. Landscapers want to sell you as many trees as possible. When they place the young trees the spacing looks great. In ten years? The trees will be jumbled together and you can never appreciate their beautiful conical shape.

Even for a true hedge, these are too close.

Little Gem Southern Magnolia is the most popular hedge in Dallas now. It grows to 30 feet in height with a full width of 20 feet. 20 feet. It flowers prolifically for six months. For this reason this is a highly prized magnolia. This is a very dependable tree. It appears that homeowners are being sold many more magnolias than they actually need! You see this ALL THE TIME in commercial plantings. Count on the Little Gem to grow 1.5 feet per year. I prefer the two magnolias with the golden under leaf such as DD Blanchard or Claudia Wannamaker. Read about their differences below.

DD Blanchard grows to 40 feet tall at 2 feet per year. Its straight central trunk well allow you to have it leaved to the ground or pruned with a visible trunk. It has pyramidal-oval form with well spaced major branches that yield a more open canopy. Its leaves are 5 to 8 inch oblong leaves with a fuzzy orange-bronze underside. Blooming during the traditional spring it also will bloom sporadically throughout the summer.

Proper spacing of the individual magnolias allows you to appreciate the beautiful shape of the magnolia while giving a hint of what lies behind them – an intriguing garden technique.

Little Gem _ Very popular but not my favorite.

Golden Underleaf of the Teddy Bear Magnolia

Little Gem Japanese Maple Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans

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D.D. Blanchard

New Magnolia with a “water well.” This looks like a DD Blanchard in that it is shaped in a round oval and has a golden underside with five to eight inch leaves.

Little Gem

Magnolia Grandiflora: The Queen of Magnolias

Magnolia Grandiflora | Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly known as the Southern Magnolia, is a large, evergreen tree native to the southeastern United States, including East Texas.

It is renowned for its glossy, dark green leaves with rusty-brown undersides and large, fragrant, creamy-white flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. The tree typically grows to heights of 60–80 feet with a spread of 30–40 feet, forming a pyramidal to rounded crown. It thrives in well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline soils and prefers full sun to partial shade. Once established, it exhibits moderate drought tolerance.

The Southern Magnolia is a prominent feature in Southern landscapes and has been widely cultivated for its ornamental value. Notably, cultivars such as ‘Kay Parris’ and ‘Victoria’ have received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for their exceptional garden performance.

Magnolia Hedge Rows

DD Bradberry Magnolia with golden underleaves.

Consider the size of the magnolia at maturity when planting a hedge row. Ultimately both the roots and the leaves will be healthier if they are not crowded at maturity. These magnolias have had their lower branches removed to create a tree like form.

Magnolia Hedge Row Spacing

Little Elm Magnolia Dallas Garden Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans

This homeowner could have easily used four or five magnolias in their hedge row. Eight was clearly too many!

Other Magnolias

‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ – This tree is compact and dense, possibly 30 feet tall. The leaves are small (6 inches), with dark, lustrous upper and rusty brown lower. The fragrant flowers are 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

‘Claudia Wannamaker’ – This is a vigorous grower, medium broad pyramid form, more open than ‘ Bracken’s Brown Beauty.’ Leaves are dark green and rusty brown. Blooms at an early age. This is the Magnolia found at the UTD reflection pool. THIS IS MY FAVORITE MAGNOLIA. Two foot growth per year or more.

Claudia Wannamaker: 30–40 feet wide
Height: 50 to 60 feet

DD Blanchard –

D.D. Blanchard: 20–30 feet wide
One to two foot growth per year.
Height: 50 to 60 feet

‘Edith Bogue’ – This has a tight pyramid form (30 feet tall, 15 feet wide). Leaves are narrow, dark green and tan. Blooms at an early age.

‘Little Gem’ – This is compact and upright, more like a dense shrub (20 feet tall, 10 feet wide). Leaves are small (4 inches) and lustrous, dark green and bronze. Flowers are small (3- to 4-inch diameter). Blooms at an early age and sporadically throughout the growing season. This magnolia is loosey in its appearance. If you are going to much as much money, time and maintainence into a Magnolia as it requires get a Claudia Wannamaker. Don’t settle for a Little Gem, like I did. Mistake.

‘Majestic Beauty’ – This is a large pyramidal tree (35 to 50 feet tall, 20 feet wide). Leaves are large; flowers profusely. Also a good choice.

‘Samuel Sommer’ – This tree is fast growing, with an upright, ascending habit (30 to 40 feet tall, 30 feet wide). Leaves dark green and bronze. Large flowers.

‘St. Mary’ – This has a compact, somewhat flat habit. It is easily trained for espalier. Early, profuse flowers. Leaves dark green and deep bronze.

Teddy Bear Magnolia: Was discovered in 1985 in South Carolina (Head-Lee Nursery). At an age of 26 years old, the mother tree of the Teddy Bear Magnolia stands at 26’ tall and 14’ wide and it has a very dense and upright pyramidal crown. Its leaves are more oval shaped leaves than Little Gem. that are 5 to 8 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide.

Teddy Bear Magnolias have leaves that are dark green and glossy on top and the underside is covered with bronze brown colored fuzz and like all other grandiflora cultivars their leaves are thick and leathery.

The Teddy Bear Magnolia differs from the Little Gem Magnolia in the following characteristics:

Teddy Bear Magnolias have more compact and narrower canopies, they have stronger and more upright lateral branches, they produce fewer flowers, their leaves are wider, and they grow slower than Little Gems. You can expect it to grow one foot per year.

Water and Nitrogen: Magnolias need nitrogen fertilizer and to be routinely watered. Hand-water your Magnolias in Texas until they are established in order to deeply soak their soil during the dry months of mid-June to October, or when the rain returns. Apply a lawn-type fertilizer in mid-March, mid-May and mid-September. The use of weed killer on the top soil in the root area of your magnolia will damage the tree’s leaf growth and possibly kill the tree. Avoid that!

Mandevilla Vines and Little Gem. I always run a clematis and mandevilla vine up my Little Gem. This gives lovely pink and purple blooms! During the summer the mandevilla will bloom when the magnolia no longer does. My dim witted sister in law asked does your magnolia bloom two colors. I could not resist, yes, I said. She spent the next two summers asking nurseries for a magnolia tree that bloomed white and pink blooms. I laughed so hard when the nursery person told me about this! I should feel badly but I still laugh. Character defect (mine) no doubt.

Evergreen Leaf Loss: Magnolias are an evergreen, but like live oaks, they must shed their sturdy leaves some time. This usually occurs with new growth. Keep the roots moist which will help with leaf loss. Magnolia blossoms are short lived – so enjoy them while they last! In the fall they will be replaced with lovely red cones.

Two Year Establishment Period – Extra Water! Hand water Magnolias for the first two years. Buy a watering wand to place in the ground. Do NOT RELY ON YOUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM. They need the extra help to become established.

Soaker Hose System: See Below.

Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia

The most brilliant display of Magnolias in Dallas is found at the Reflection Pools at the University of Texas at Dallas. Read More Here.

The Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia has symmetrical branching, a pure conical shape and the sturdy leaf with the bronze undercolor. Once you see this Magnolia display this will be the ONLY magnolia you ever want!

DD Blanchard Magnolia with Golden Underleaf

Claudia Wannamaker Magnolia below.

The tall bullet shaped Claudia Wannamaker is full with golden underleaves.

I am a frugal gardner. I use the $14.05 Gilmour soaker hose. It’s light weight and not rubbery. It stays where you lay it.It’s made from a tight mesh fabric instead of rubber. The drip is fast at full pressure but adjust the flow. Put them on timers to water your hedges and gardens in the early morning.Do not use a wide open water valve. Restrict the flow. The full water pressure of 10-15 psi is too much for your garden, your hose, the environment and your water bill! You can make a restrictor to go into the Gilmour hose which will help with water consumption. Drill a 1/8th inch hole in a penny and place it in the hose.

Use a timer on your soaker hose to set it and forget it until the rainy season returns.

You see below spreading the Magnolias spacing allows their natural conical shape to be defined is much preferable to crowding the magnolias. With water and nitrogen your magnolias will grow more quickly to create the hedge effect – give them room for their long lives to demonstrate their beauty. You will never be able to recapture this natural growth pattern even if you ‘thin’ them out – but who has the nerve to ever cut down a magnolia. Start them off with space and you — and the next generation will appreciate that choice.

Magnolia_Tree_Hedge_Row_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

Magnolia as Foundation Planting has more conical shape for the tree as seen above.

Magnolia bloom below. You can see the older leaves beginning to turn yellow and go through the shedding process. Watering will help maintain older leaves. Usually this requires deep hand watering. The problem with the in ground inserted watering wands is they reach a very limited area. Soaker hoses in addition to you sprinkler system would work for the first few years … to accommodate for the Texas drought conditions.

Little Gem Magnolia

The Little Gem below has the green underleaf. I kept waiting, where oh where was my golden rugged underleaf? Gone, with Little Gem. Just never adjusted to Little Gem.

Golden Underleaf of DD Blanchard

DD Blanchard has a golden underleaf.

Little Gem has a green underleaf.

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Little Gem Magnolia Tree with Green Underleaf

Above are the blooms of Little Gem. Below are the blooms of DD Blanchard. I feel like DD Blanchard’s blooms are a bit hardier and it it shatters a bit later.

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Little Gem Magnolias for that multi-million dollar mansion in your future!!!

Little_Gem_Magnolia_Dallas_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

Espladiered against a brick wall. This is accomplished with any kind of mortar screw and fishing line.

Better trimming and a more substantial espladiered back drop could grow straight branches and allow them to become thick and sturdy. I have seen this but have not photograph.

Calf Panels would work as well. Dairy Country – has an abundance of welders. It is not expensive to have these custom made.

These guys can make exactly what you want.

Or you can order prefab from Tractor Supply.

Or get some redwood from Lowes, mortar screw it to the wall and use that! Leave enough room behind the wood strip to get your fishing wire through there.

Espladiered purple …. shrub on cattle wire and wall.

Wisteria with Knockout Roses and a hedgerow of Magnolias

10 Questions and Answers About Magnolia grandiflora

1. Q: What are the distinguishing features of Magnolia grandiflora?
A: It has large, glossy, dark green leaves with rusty-brown undersides and produces sizable, fragrant, creamy-white flowers.

2. Q: How tall and wide does it typically grow?
A: It usually reaches 60–80 feet in height with a spread of 30–40 feet.

3. Q: When does it bloom?
A: Blooming occurs from late spring through summer.

4. Q: What are its soil and light preferences?
A: It prefers well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline soils and thrives in full sun to partial shade.

5. Q: Is it drought-tolerant?
A: Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance.

6. Q: Are there any notable cultivars?
A: Yes, cultivars like ‘Kay Parris’ and ‘Victoria’ have received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

7. Q: Is it suitable for small gardens?
A: Due to its size, it’s better suited for larger landscapes.

8. Q: Does it require frequent pruning?
A: Minimal pruning is needed; remove dead or damaged branches as necessary.

9. Q: Are there any pests or diseases to watch for?
A: It’s relatively pest-resistant but can occasionally be affected by scale insects or leaf spot diseases.

10. Q: Can it be grown outside the southeastern U.S.?
A: Yes, in USDA zones 6–10, but protection from harsh winters may be necessary in cooler regions.

For gardeners in Texas, especially in East and Central regions, Magnolia grandiflora is a valuable addition to the landscape, offering year-round foliage and seasonal blooms.

10 Questions and Answers About ‘D.D. Blanchard’ Magnolia

1. Q: What makes ‘D.D. Blanchard’ different from the species Magnolia grandiflora?
A: It has a more uniform, upright shape and particularly glossy dark green leaves with striking bronze undersides. It’s more formal and structured in appearance than seed-grown magnolias.

2. Q: How tall and wide does ‘D.D. Blanchard’ grow?
A: It reaches about 50–60 feet tall and 20–30 feet wide at maturity with a narrow pyramidal form.

3. Q: What USDA zones is it best suited for?
A: Zones 7–9, making it ideal for Central and East Texas, but marginal in colder areas.

4. Q: When does it bloom and what do the flowers look like?
A: It blooms in late spring and sporadically through summer with large, fragrant white flowers up to 8 inches across.

5. Q: How fast does ‘D.D. Blanchard’ grow?
A: It is a moderate grower, averaging 1 to 2 feet per year under good conditions.

6. Q: Does it need pruning?
A: Minimal pruning is needed. It naturally holds a strong shape. Remove lower limbs only if a more tree-like form is desired.

7. Q: What type of soil does it prefer?
A: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil. It does not perform well in compacted, alkaline, or dry soils without modification.

8. Q: Is it drought-tolerant once established?
A: Yes, it is moderately drought-tolerant once well-established, though deep watering during dry spells helps maintain health.

9. Q: Are the leaves messy or hard to manage?
A: The large, leathery leaves drop slowly and decompose slowly. In maintained landscapes, leaf litter may require raking.

10. Q: Is ‘D.D. Blanchard’ suitable for small urban lots?
A: No. Due to its mature size and root structure, it’s best for larger residential or commercial landscapes with room to spread.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ is a fast-growing cultivar of the Southern Magnolia valued for its broad pyramidal form, large white flowers, and vigorous, upright growth. It offers a slightly looser, more natural shape than ‘D.D. Blanchard’ and is popular in landscapes that require quicker establishment of evergreen screening or a specimen tree with Southern character. The glossy green leaves with brown undersides are typical of the species, and the cultivar performs well in East and Central Texas when planted in full sun and well-drained, acidic soil.

10 Questions and Answers About ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ Magnolia

1. Q: How does ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ differ from other Southern Magnolia cultivars?
A: It is faster growing, has a broader, less formal canopy, and can provide quicker screening than more upright cultivars like ‘D.D. Blanchard’.

2. Q: What is the mature size of this magnolia?
A: Typically 50–60 feet tall and 30–40 feet wide, with a full, pyramidal to rounded shape.

3. Q: What USDA zones is it best suited for?
A: Hardy in zones 7–9, making it well-adapted to most of East and Central Texas.

4. Q: When does it flower and what do the blooms look like?
A: It blooms in late spring and intermittently through summer. The fragrant white flowers can reach up to 8–10 inches across.

5. Q: How fast does ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ grow?
A: It is considered a fast grower for a magnolia—up to 2 feet or more per year in ideal conditions.

6. Q: Does it require frequent pruning?
A: No, pruning is optional. It holds a natural shape. Lower limbs can be pruned up over time if desired.

7. Q: What soil conditions does it prefer?
A: Like other Southern magnolias, it thrives in acidic, well-drained soil with consistent moisture, especially during establishment.

8. Q: Is it drought-tolerant once established?
A: Yes, it is moderately drought-tolerant, though regular deep watering improves appearance and bloom performance in dry periods.

9. Q: Is it suitable for use as a screening tree?
A: Yes. Due to its faster growth rate and broad canopy, it is often planted for privacy screens or windbreaks.

10. Q: Are there any known issues with pests or disease?
A: It is generally pest- and disease-resistant, though it may develop leaf spot or scale in poorly drained or stressed conditions.

‘D.D. Blanchard’ and ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ magnolias are both cultivars of Magnolia grandiflora, known for their evergreen foliage, fragrant white blooms, and suitability for Southern landscapes. However, they differ in form, growth rate, and landscape use.

‘D.D. Blanchard’ is more upright and formal, with a narrower pyramidal shape, making it ideal for structured designs or tighter spaces. Its leaves are especially glossy, with deep green upper surfaces and rich copper-brown undersides, and it maintains a strong central leader. In contrast,

‘Claudia Wannamaker’ grows faster and broader, reaching similar heights (50–60 feet) but spreading wider (up to 40 feet), with a more open, rounded form that suits naturalistic or screening purposes. While both bloom in late spring and offer similar large, fragrant white flowers, ‘Claudia Wannamaker’ establishes more quickly, which can be an advantage in new landscapes needing rapid coverage.

In Texas, both perform well in Central and East Texas, but those seeking a formal accent tree might favor ‘D.D. Blanchard’, while those prioritizing faster growth and fuller coverage may prefer ‘Claudia Wannamaker’.

Width (Canopy Spread)

D.D. Blanchard: 20–30 feet wide
Claudia Wannamaker: 30–40 feet wide
Comparison: Claudia Wannamaker has a broader, fuller canopy, making it better for screening or shade.

Growth Rate

D.D. Blanchard: Moderate (1–2 feet per year)
Claudia Wannamaker: Fast (2 feet or more per year under ideal conditions)
Comparison: Claudia Wannamaker grows faster and establishes more quickly.