Alta Dwarf Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora ‘TMGH’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 20-30′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: 7-8′ for solid hedge; 16’+ for space between between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Columnar to Pyramidal, Dense, Upright

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: Large, 10″

Flowering Period: Summer

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – extremely fragrant!

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Copper-orange undersides

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 4.5 – 7.5 (Acid to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

Sporting wonderfully fragrant white flowers measuring 10 inches across that fill the air with a fresh, lemony aroma, ‘Alta’ is a handsome Southern Magnolia with a more narrow, columnar and dense growth habit than its cousins. Growing 25 to 30 feet tall and only 8-10 feet wide at maturity, Alta makes a fine selection for privacy screen plantings or to frame tall homes where space is limited. Its dark green leaves with orange-bronze undersides are narrower than the species providing a unique and outstanding texture in the landscape.

Note: It’s difficult, if not impossible, to provide information that relates to the mature size of the Alta Magnolia as no one anywhere seems to have a full-grown specimen. Here’s what we do know: a height of 20 feet and width of 8 feet or so in 10 years can be expected.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing in an upright columnar form 20 to 30 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, the Alta Southern Magnolia is ideal for use as a focal point specimen, in groupings, or as an evergreen privacy screen planting or background. Also effective to frame the corners of tall homes or other buildings or as espalier; trained to grow against a wall. Can also be grown in containers though eventually might need to be transplanted to the landscape. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, white theme gardens, wildlife gardens, cut flower gardens, and cottage gardens.

Spacing: 7 to 8 feet apart for solid screens; 16 feet or more apart for space between trees

See: Privacy Screen Planting Tips & Instructions

Growing Preferences

Alta Southern Magnolia is very easy to grow in a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. It prefers a soil rich in organic matter and grows well in full sun or part shade. For best flowering and foliage density, we suggest 4 hours or more per day of direct sunlight or all-day filtered sun.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, feed and water Southern Magnolia trees.

How To Plant & Care For Southern Magnolia Trees

Privacy Screen Design Planting Tips & Instructions

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us

Just a brief note of thanks. All items ordered and shipped arrived today in beautiful condition.
Very carefully packed and shipped.
Thank you again.——————————————Hi Christopher, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alta Magnolia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

First thing is the tree arrived in perfect shape. I wish more growers would use your method of packaging their plants. The only problems I had was getting the tree out of the box and the fact that there weren’t planting instructions with the tree. People shouldn’t have to go to the website in order to get the plant in the ground. As far as everything the else my wife and I are completely happy with our purchase and the way it arrived and the timely manner in which it was shipped. Will def be purchasing more plants in the future.————————————–WBG Reply: Hi Michael, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alta Southern Magnolia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Sorry you had trouble getting it out of the box, but that’s the best way we’ve found to get them to you in good condition. And as far as planting instructions go, every plant has to be planted a certain way and that’s why we refer to the website. Thanks again!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Wow, I did not expect this to be so big and full especially when ordered online. I will not have to wait as long as I thought for it to become a large tree in my yard. Thanks Wilson Bros. I will order from you again