MICHELIA maudiae (Maudiae Magnolia)

Michelia maudiae, now classified as Magnolia maudiae, is an evergreen tree that screens quickly and flowers with a scent you notice from the far side of a garden. It reaches about 7m tall and 4m wide, carries glossy dark leaves year round, and has non-invasive roots, which is rare in a tree of this height. This listing is ex ground stock: field grown and lifted to order as an advanced specimen.

Why you'll love it

• Fragrance that carries. The large white flowers are strongly scented, enough to fill a courtyard or drift across a driveway.
• Evergreen and fast. Unlike the deciduous magnolias it screens in July as well as January, and puts on height quickly.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non-invasive roots mean it can be planted near paths, driveways and services without the usual worry.
• Wind and humidity tolerant. It holds its leaves in exposed positions and copes with humid tropical summers.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart for a dense evergreen screen. At that spacing the canopies knit into a continuous wall while each tree still fills out from the base.

Driveways and avenues. For a row of individual trees showing their own shape, stretch the spacing to 4m to match the mature width.

Feature planting. A single advanced tree suits a front garden or courtyard, where the scent is close and the roots sit safely near paving.

Growing Michelia maudiae in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest canopy, part shade accepted. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens should choose a hardier evergreen.

Soil. Well drained ground improved with compost. It will not tolerate waterlogging, so raise the planting position on heavy clay and mulch to 75mm, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. A newly lifted tree has lost feeder roots, so deep soak twice a week through the first twelve months. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Tip prune after flowering to thicken a screen, and remove the lowest branches only if you want a clear trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

This is sold as a single advanced field grown specimen rather than by pot size, so the tree you receive is an individual with its own height and shape. Ex ground stock is dug with a root ball, ideally in the cooler months, and arrives with the canopy tied.

Expect a settling in period. Some leaf drop in the first weeks is normal while the root system rebuilds, and steady growth usually resumes in the second season. Delivered Australia wide, with advanced and large stock freighted at cost, covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the guide to magnolia tree care in Australia.
• Compare varieties in the magnolia collection.
• Browse other ex ground advanced trees.
• See more fragrant plants.

Common questions

Is it a michelia or a magnolia?

Both names refer to the same tree. Botanists moved the michelias into Magnolia, so it is correctly Magnolia maudiae, though most nurseries still use the older name.

What does ex ground mean?

The tree has been grown in open ground on a farm rather than a pot, then dug with a root ball when ordered. It buys far more tree for the money, but needs careful watering through its first year.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. Closer planting shades the lower branches and leaves gaps near the ground.

Will the roots lift paving or block pipes?

The root system is non-invasive, which is why it suits driveways and narrow front gardens. Leave a couple of metres of clearance as good practice.