12 VARIETIES

1 ‘Church Mouse’ is Glyn Church’s own compact magnolia, typically growing to just over 1m high.

2 Magnolia laevifolia is hardy, wind- and frost-tolerant, and best planted where you can enjoy its scent.

3 ‘Alba’ has small flowers that would be hard to find except that the scent “is exquisite”, says Glyn.

4 Magnolia ‘Mixed up Miss’ has glossy, green leaves and in spring, fragrant cream flowers flushed pink at the tips.

5 ‘Champaca’ has bright grass green leaves as big as a hand and orange apricot flowers scented like candy.

6 ‘Little Gem’ does branch lower and seemingly stay more compact for a while, but it will still push your garden space to the limits and probably lift your tarmac driveway as well.

7 Magnolia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ grows to become a big tree with lax flowers with lots of white petals.

8 Delavayi is more common in parks and botanic gardens, and remains a collector’s item rather than a common garden plant.

9 Magnolia maudiae has glossy leaves the size of a small hand and is laden with icy white flowers in spring.

10 Michelia yunnanensis Yes it is Magnolia laevifolia now, but some gardeners stick to the common name michelia.

11 Michelia figo Commonly known as port wine magnolia, and much loved for its more compact form as it can be clipped to keep it in bounds as a shrub.

12 Magnolia dealbata grows “incredibly fast”, says Glyn, and has “ridiculously large leaves”.