Southern Magnolia 'Teddy Bear'
Botanical Name: Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: Southeastern United States
Plant Type: Evergreen tree
Overview
A compact Southern Magnolia ideal for Adelaide and South Australian gardens, combining a naturally tidy, upright habit with large, lemon-scented white blooms. ‘Teddy Bear’ is loved for its glossy deep-green leaves with rich, rusty-brown felted undersides that read warm and textural year-round. Tough once established, it copes with SA heat, wind and coastal conditions, making elegant screens, avenues and feature specimens with minimal fuss.
Key Features
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Mature Size: 3–5 m H × 2–3 m W (narrow pyramidal/oval canopy)
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Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
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Foliage: Glossy dark green above; thick, velvety rust-brown undersides; new growth brighter green before deepening; older leaves may yellow/brown before shedding in seasonal flushes (normal)
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Flowers: Large, creamy-white, lemon-fragrant blooms mainly summer; light spot-flowering in warm spells
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Seasonal Interest: Evergreen gloss all year → summer perfume and flowers → decorative seed cones with red seeds and a strong, sculptural winter framework
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Wildlife Value: Nectar/pollen for visiting insects; moderate garden pollinator interest
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Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Frost Hardy (light–moderate), Wind-Tolerant; Coastal-Tolerant in sheltered sites; Clay-Tolerant if well-drained
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Planting Density: Avenue/specimen: 1 tree per 6–9 m² (≈2.5–3 m apart) for screening; wider for specimen canopies
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Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs
Where It Works Best
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Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)
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Soil: Well-drained, moisture-retentive loam/sandy loam/clay loam; avoid waterlogging
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Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry.
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Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light shape after flowering or late winter; feed in early spring (balanced, low-P on alkaline soils); avoid cutting into old wood
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Lifespan: 25-50 years
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Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
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Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline if drainage is good
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Privacy screening and boundary hedges with a refined, evergreen finish
- Mass plant along driveways/avenues for repeated summer perfume and glossy structure
- Feature near entries and outdoor living spaces; excellent in large courtyard containers
Why You Will Love It
‘Teddy Bear’ brings big Magnolia fragrance and flowers to Adelaide gardens without demanding a big footprint. Its upright, compact habit makes screening and avenue planting easy, while the rust-brown “teddy” undersides add year-round luxury to the landscape. Built for South Australia’s Mediterranean climate, it’s a low-fuss, high-impact statement tree that consistently lifts street appeal and property value.
