Michelias and Port Wine Magnolia

How to choose a michelia

For hedging, start with Port Wine Magnolia. It grows slowly to about 3m, clips well and carries small cream and maroon flowers with a rich fruity perfume in spring. Coco is a slightly smaller form of it. The Fairy magnolias, Fairy Blush, Fairy Cream and Fairy White, are bushier and faster, 2.5m to 3m, with larger flowers in pink, cream or white. Scented Pearl and White Caviar bring pure white cupped blooms on plants of similar size, and Scented Pearl is also sold trained as an espalier.

For a taller screen, Bubbles and Inspiration form 4m pyramids. At tree scale, White Michelia and Silver Cloud reach about 8m, with flowers that perfume a whole garden.

Where michelias work

Michelia, now classed by botanists within Magnolia, suits warm temperate and subtropical gardens best: Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and coastal areas between. The shrub forms also do well in Melbourne and Adelaide with shelter from hot wind and hard frost. White Michelia is the tender one and wants a warm, frost free spot. Give them morning sun or light shade and slightly acidic soil rich in compost. Plant near doors, windows and paths where the scent can be enjoyed, as you would other fragrant plants.

Planting and spacing

For a hedge, plant Port Wine Magnolia and the Fairy types 80cm to 1m apart. For a looser screen allow 1.5m. Trees need 4m to 5m. Dig in compost, plant level with the soil surface and mulch 7cm deep, keeping it off the stem. They are shallow rooted, so do not cultivate under them.

Care basics

Water regularly for the first two summers, then during dry spells. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a fertiliser for acid loving plants. Prune straight after flowering: a light trim keeps hedges dense, and plants tolerate harder shaping than most magnolias. Yellow leaves with green veins point to alkaline soil. The port wine magnolia care guide covers hedging and common problems, and the wider magnolia range has the deciduous and grandiflora types.

Common questions

What does Port Wine Magnolia smell like?

Most people describe it as sweet and fruity, somewhere between bubblegum and ripe banana with a hint of wine. The scent is strongest on warm spring afternoons.

How fast do michelias grow?

Port Wine Magnolia is slow to moderate at about 30cm a year. The Fairy magnolias are quicker, commonly 50cm or more a year once established.

Can michelias grow in pots?

Yes. The shrub forms do well in a 50cm pot with a quality mix for acid loving plants, regular water and a feed each spring.

Do michelias need full sun?

They flower best with at least half a day of sun. In hot inland or western positions, afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch.