13 Types of Magnolia Trees For Florida Gardens

Florida is a state of significantly varied climate zones. Here in North Florida, I woke up this mid-October morning to see frost on my neighbor’s roof. Meanwhile, in my hometown of Boca Raton, the climate is fully tropical, and if the temperature dips to 32° more than once in a decade, it’s a momentous event. From Pensacola to Key West, the state of Florida encompasses four full plant hardiness zones. This privilege is only shared with three other states in the U.S.

The rather significant shift in climate means that there is also a very wide variety of plants that live in the state. The shift from subtropical to tropical creates an especially profound change in plant life between Central and South Florida. A plant that grows in Lake Worth, Florida (their motto is “Where the Tropics Begin”) may be impossible to grow just a half hour north on Palm Beach Island.

Fortunately for residents of the Sunshine State, magnolias are a genus of flowering tree that has species thrive thrive in all four Floridian planting zones. While most magnolias are hardy only to zone 9, there are a handful of wonderful cultivars that are quite happy in zone 10, and even one tropical variety that is perfectly happy in zone 11.

We’ve put together a list of magnolia varieties that fall into these climate zones. You’ll learn about deciduous and evergreen varieties, with a range of bloom times from late winter through early fall. Also included are both full-sized trees and wonderful dwarf varieties for suburban and urban gardens. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in!

‘Alexandrina’

	botanical name Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’
	bloom colors Pink with White interiors
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 20’-25’ tall and wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Alexandrina’ is a variety of saucer magnolia that has fragrant pink blooms. The flowers are quite large, growing up to 6″-10″ wide. They are larger blooms compared to other varieties on this list.

The buds appear later in the winter and will bloom in a lavender color, opening to a softer shade of pink with blue hues. The blooms will then fade to white at the edges. This tree is fragrant and produces plenty of pollen to attract pollinators.

The growth profile of ‘Alexandrina’ lends itself well to a privacy hedge or a large shrub. It grows in a rounded form and is symmetrical. If you trim the bottom branches, it will grow in the form of a small to mid-sized tree.

This variety is not very frost tolerant, so planting it where it is somewhat protected (near a house or shed) is preferable. This variety prefers even moisture and likes to be grown in full sun conditions.

‘Ashe’s Magnolia’

	botanical name Magnolia Ashe
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun to Part Shade
	height 15’-25’ tall and wide
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Ashe’s Magnolia’ is sometimes grouped with Magnolia Macrophylla (Bigleaf Magnolia). Though widely discussed, the conclusion is that Ashe’s Magnolia is a subspecies of this larger species rather than a variety.

This is mainly because of its size; Where Bigleaf reaches up to 40’ tall and wide when mature, ‘Ashe’s Magnolia’ is significantly smaller. It still shares the signature leaves, which are very large, at 2’ long and 10” wide.

Ashe’s blooms are quite impressive. They are some of the largest in the genus at up to 15” in diameter. The large white petals are a bit floppy and have bright magenta streaks in the center around a pale-yellow carpel.

This species is native to Florida and is endangered, so it’s important to preserve as many of these beautiful trees as possible. Ashe’s grows quite wide and has lateral roots, so it needs plenty of ground space to spread.

‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’

	botanical name Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 30’-50’ tall and 15’-30’ wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Bracken’s Brown Beauty is a smaller variety of the Grandiflora species. It has a lovely pyramidal growth habit and is the fastest-growing and most dense of the species. Bracken’s is very hardy and transplants well. Another advantage to this beautiful variety is its tendency to hold its leaves better than most varieties, creating less mess on the ground beneath.

Bracken’s is easy to care for and native to North America. In spring, it blooms heavily with medium-sized (4”-6” in diameter), very fragrant blooms. The white, cup-shaped blooms continue to bloom, although more sporadically, through the summer.

Bracken’s leaves are oblong and dark green with cinnamon-brown velvet underneath. The only downside to this wonderful variety is its intolerance to urban pollutants, making it a variety that doesn’t like city life.

‘Brittany’

	botanical name Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Brittany’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 15’-2’0’ tall and 8’-10’ wide
	hardiness zones 7-10

Brittany is a lovely dwarf variety of the Grandiflora species. This small variety has the look of a larger Grandiflora variety, with flowers that are very large (10” in diameter) compared to the stature of the mature tree. The foliage on this shade-friendly evergreen is especially dense, and this variety is hardy all the way south to zone 10.

With a nice, dense conical habit, Brittany is great for containers as well as smaller spaces in the garden. It also makes a great hedge, as its density provides a lot of privacy.

Brittany is similar in appearance to Little Gem but with denser foliage and a gold-tone to the underside of its waxy green leaves rather than the rust tone of the Gem.

‘Cameo’

	botanical name Magnolia ‘Cameo’
	bloom colors Reddish-purple
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 10’-15’ tall and 4’-6’ wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

This stunning variety gets its name from the likeness of its blooms to a sculpted cameo. The flowers on this magnolia are purple on the outside and clean and white inside and are rather large compared to the small stature of this tree. Cameo fits well even in the smallest of spaces and has an upright growth habit.

Bred in New Zealand, Cameo is extremely free flowering. Blooms begin in spring and can continue more sporadically into the summer months. This compact tree makes a great container plant, and the stunning blooms make wonderful cut flowers.

‘Dr. Merrill’

	botanical name Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 15’-25’ tall and wide
	hardiness zones 4-9

Dr. Merrill is a beautiful hybrid cross between Japanese natives M. Stellata and M. Kobus. It has the faster growth rate of Kobus paired with the earlier bloom time of Stellata.

This deciduous variety has oblong leaves that turn golden bronze in the fall. The fragrant blooms appear in late winter to early spring on bare wood. Merrill makes a nice shrub with its rounded growth habit.

The flowers are white and have a double petal formation. They flower with just a faint blush to the center and pink or yellow eyes. When grown from cuttings, this tree can bloom at just 2-3 years of age, making it one of the earliest blooming magnolias in terms of age. Dr. Merrill is named for Dr. Elmer Merrill, a former administrator of the botanical collections at Harvard University.

‘Genie’

	botanical name Magnolia soulangeana x liliiflora ‘Genie’
	bloom colors Maroon-purple
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 10’-13’ tall and 5’-6’ wide
	hardiness zones 5-9

Genie is a wish come true with the most spellbinding blooms that bring an elegant beauty to any small garden. This variety is small, but it is mighty where the blooms are concerned. Large (6”) deep maroon blooms emerge from fuzzy brown buds in mid-spring.

A deep red carpel with stamens lightly dusted with yellow pollen peek through the petals when opened. The flowers are tulip shaped and lightly fragrant. Though they bloom on bare wood, with adequate moisture, they can continue to bloom into the summer months sporadically.

The tree itself is compact and upright, with a narrow growth habit. This sweet little tree will wow in the garden and is especially nice to have close to the house or patio, where its gorgeous blooms can be enjoyed as often as possible. This variety is an award winner for its ease of care and outstanding physical qualities.

‘Green Shadow’

	botanical name Magnolia Virginiana ‘Green Shadow’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun to Part Sun
	height 35’ tall and 18’ wide
	hardiness zones 5-10

Green Shadow is a great variety of evergreen magnolia for those gardening in zone 10. South Florida can be a bit swampy, and this is one magnolia that loves wet, acidic soil. It is also tolerant of sandy soil and salt as well as clay, which means that it will grow quite well in Coastal and North Florida as well!

This mid-sized variety has medium green leaves with the signature flashy silver underside of the species. It has an upright growth habit that tends toward a tight oval shape.

Green Shadow has a wonderfully long bloom time, with flowers blooming for as long as four months during the summer. The individual blooms last for a week and are medium-sized, a creamy white shade, with a rich vanilla fragrance.

‘Kay Parris’

	botanical name Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun to Part Shade
	height 20’ tall and 10’ wide
	hardiness zones 6-9

Kay Parris makes a lovely small tree or a large shrub. This variety is drought tolerant, with an erect carriage and flowers that are good for cutting. A rapid growth rate makes this a desirable tree, as it reaches maturity quickly.

The flowers are highly fragranced and slightly smaller than the similar Southern Magnolia. Kay’s leaves are leathery and shiny with a deep orange-brown velvet underside. The creamy white blooms on this magnolia appear in late May and can continue into the fall.

‘Little Gem’

	botanical name Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 15’-20’ tall and 7’-10’ wide
	hardiness zones 6-10

‘Little Gem‘ has all the appeal of a stately Southern Magnolia in a neat little package. Gardeners with more limited space will appreciate the compact form of this tree. This small evergreen makes a great large container plant. ‘Little Gem’ is tolerant of most soil and watering conditions to a moderate degree.

This variety has the advantage of blooming early in maturation and produces a great number of blooms in those early years. The flowers are mid-sized (4”) and quite fragrant, with rounded creamy white petals, a large yellow carpel, and plentiful stamens.

These lovely blooms appear in Spring and summer on evergreen foliage. ‘Little Gem’ is slow growing, with an upright growth habit.

‘Michelia Alba’

	botanical name Magnolia x figo ‘Alba’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 25’-30’ tall and wide
	hardiness zones 8-12

This unique variety of magnolia has some very singular characteristics uncommon to the genus. Evergreen to zone 10 with highly glossed foliage, this magnolia prefers warmer climates and is only hardy north to zone 8 where it will behave as a deciduous tree. Michelia is slow growing but early to bloom.

The flowers are distinctly shaped with long thin petals and have a spider-like appearance. The heavily fragranced blooms are commonly used in Indonesian bridal garlands.

Flowers retain their scent for a long time after cutting. This variety goes by many aliases mainly referencing its remarkably fragrant flowers.

‘Stellar Ruby’

	botanical name Magnolia figo Hybrid ‘Stellar Ruby’
	bloom colors Pink to ruby hued
	sun requirements Full Sun to Part Shade
	height 10’-15’ tall and 6’-8’ wide
	hardiness zones 7-9

This small magnolia hybrid enjoys a warmer climate and may not thrive as well above zone 7. It is evergreen with a tropical quality. The leaves are bright green and elongated, and ‘Stellar Ruby‘ puts on quite a show when it blooms.

An early spring bloomer, this variety can continue to bloom through the summer and even into the fall! The name describes the flowers, which are ruby-colored and make great, long-lasting cut flowers. Stella Ruby’s blooms are frequently described as banana scented.

‘Teddy Bear’

	botanical name Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Southern Charm’
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 16’-20’ tall and 10’-12’ wide
	hardiness zones 7-9

Compact for a Southern Magnolia hybrid, Teddy Bear is a medium-sized tree with an upright growth habit. It has the signature, leathery, deep green leaves with a fuzzy bronze underside.

Considered a dwarf of the species, Teddy Bear can still reach heights up to 20’ and is better suited to a small tree than a shrub. It also adapts well to a large container.

The long-lasting blooms appear in summer. They are large (6”-8”) and last into the fall. The flowers resemble the larger Southern Magnolia blooms but with a delicately tapered interior and a rich yellow shade to the central carpel and stamens. The fragrance is lingering and very pleasant.