Magnolia grandiflora ‘Coolwyn Gloss’ PBR (Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia)

Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss' PBR) is the evergreen screen for a narrow space. It holds to about 6m tall and only 3m wide, with heavily glossy dark leaves backed in bronze felt, and large white flowers through the warmer months. The roots are non-invasive, so it sits close to paving where other trees of this height cannot.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by design. Roughly 6m by 3m screens an upstairs window without swallowing the bed underneath.
• Evergreen, so the screen never lapses. Dense foliage right through winter, which deciduous screening trees cannot offer.
• Fragrant white flowers. Large cream white blooms carry a lemon and vanilla scent across a courtyard.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Fibrous and non-invasive, so it suits driveways, paths and service lines.
• Coastal and wind tolerant. Salt tolerant, wind firm and drought tolerant once established.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart for a dense evergreen screen. At that spacing the crowns knit into a continuous wall while each tree stays furnished to the base.

Driveways and avenues. Stretch to 3m or 4m for an avenue, where each tree reads as an individual with a clean upright shape.

Small gardens and feature planting. A single tree beside an entry, or a matched pair flanking a gate, gives year round structure in a footprint of only 3m.

Growing Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering and the densest growth; part shade works with a looser habit. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy once established, though young trees want protection in cold districts.

Soil. Well drained, slightly acidic soil with compost through the backfill. It will not tolerate waterlogging, so plant on a raised mound on heavy clay and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak two or three times a week through the first two summers while the tree rebuilds its roots, then taper off. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Very little is needed, which is the point of a naturally narrow selection. Tip prune after flowering to thicken a screen, and lift the lowest branches only for a clear trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

This is ex ground stock, grown in the field and lifted to order in two sizes: 3.5m to 4m and 4.5m to 5m. Both give you a screen the day they go in rather than in five years. They arrive root pruned with a root ball, and need machinery or several people to place, with the hole dug before delivery.

Expect a thinner crown and some leaf drop through the first season while the tree puts its energy into roots. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, delivery is Australia wide, and a minimum order of $300 applies. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the complete guide to magnolia care in Australia.
• Compare selections in the magnolia collection.
• Browse other advanced specimens in the ex ground tree range.
• When and how to prune a magnolia.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. Any tighter and the lower branches shade each other out, leaving gaps near the ground where you most want cover.

How is this different from the species magnolia?

The straight species reaches well over 10m and spreads widely. This selection holds to about 6m by 3m with glossier foliage, which is what makes it usable in a suburban garden.

Can I plant it near a driveway or pipes?

Yes. The root system is fibrous and non-invasive, one of the reasons it is chosen for avenues. Leave about 1.5m of clearance from hard surfaces as good practice.

Will it cope with coastal wind?

It is salt and wind tolerant once established, so a coastal block suits it. Stake an ex ground tree for its first two years while the new roots take hold.