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!

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