Avoid Frost Damage with the ‘Little Girl’ Magnolias
Meet Magnolias ‘Ann’, ‘Betty’, ‘Jane’, ‘Judy’, ‘Pinkie’, ‘Randy’, ‘Ricki’, ‘Susan’ and their Frost-Resistant Flowers
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If you've ever admired the breathtaking beauty of early-blooming magnolias but worried about losing those precious flowers to a late spring frost, the 'Little Girl' magnolias might be exactly what your landscape needs.
These charming small trees combine the stunning floral display we love about magnolias with a smarter blooming strategy that helps them dodge those heartbreaking freeze events.
Developed specifically to solve this common frustration for gardeners, the 'Little Girl' magnolias have become beloved additions to gardens across a wide range of climates.
In this article, we'll take a look at what the Little Girl magnolias are, how to grow them, and different ways to integrate them into your landscape design.
Meet the Little Girl magnolias - compact, charming, and perfect for adding beauty right up close to your home.
What are the Little Girl Magnolias?
The 'Little Girl' magnolias are a group of eight magnolia cultivars developed by the U.S. National Arboretum specifically to avoid the frost damage frequently seen on other early-blooming deciduous magnolias.
Named after the daughters and nieces of the program's developers, this collection includes 'Ann', 'Betty', 'Jane', 'Judy', 'Pinkie', 'Randy', 'Ricki', and 'Susan'.
These magnolias grow as erect, shrub-like small trees, typically reaching 10-15 feet in height, making them perfect for smaller gardens or as focal points in mixed borders.
Their tulip-shaped flowers appear in varying shades of purple-red, from deep burgundy to rosy pink, creating a striking display in the spring landscape.
The most popular and readily available varieties are 'Ann', 'Jane', and 'Susan', which you'll commonly find at garden centers and nurseries.
The magic of the 'Little Girl' magnolias lies in their timing. They bloom 2-4 weeks later than their cousins the star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) and saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana), significantly minimizing the risk of frost damage to those precious blooms.
In late winter, you'll notice fuzzy flower buds forming on smooth gray bark - these protective coverings help shield the developing flowers. When spring arrives, the blooms open to reveal their full glory, followed by leathery green leaves that emerge as flowering finishes.
As a delightful bonus, flowers may occasionally reappear during the summer months, giving you a second show.
These versatile magnolias are hardy in zones 3b through 8, making them suitable for a remarkably wide range of climates. Don’t know your gardening zone? Look it up on the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone map.
* Buy Magnolia Ann from Fast Growing Trees *
* Buy Magnolia Jane from Fast Growing Trees *
The cup-shaped, tulip-like flowers of Magnolia ‘Jane’
How to Grow and Care for the Little Girl Magnolias
One of the greatest advantages of the 'Little Girl' magnolias is their adaptability and ease of care, making them excellent choices for both novice and experienced gardeners alike.
Soil and Watering Magnolias thrive in rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. The key to success is maintaining consistently moist soil, especially during the first few years after planting when the tree is establishing its root system.
Deep, infrequent watering is more beneficial than shallow, frequent watering, as it encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. During hot, dry periods, pay particular attention to your magnolia's water needs.
For more detailed guidance on proper watering techniques, read "How to Water a Tree" to ensure your magnolia gets off to the best start.
Pruning and Maintenance The 'Little Girl' magnolias are refreshingly low-maintenance when it comes to pruning. These trees naturally develop an attractive form and require little, if any, pruning.
If you do need to shape your tree or remove dead or damaged branches, the best time to prune is in late spring, immediately after flowering has completed. This timing is crucial - pruning earlier in the season can remove flower buds, and pruning later may affect next year's bloom.
When pruning, focus on light shaping and the removal of any crossing or rubbing branches to maintain good air circulation.
The ‘Little Girl’ magnolias naturally keep their graceful form, no pruning required!
Pest and Disease Management While generally healthy and resilient, 'Little Girl' magnolias can occasionally encounter issues such as scale insects, canker, powdery mildew, or leaf spots.
Regular monitoring of your tree will help you catch any problems early. If you notice unusual symptoms like yellowing leaves, spots, or wilting, consult with a certified arborist or your local extension service for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Visit the International Society for Arboriculture to get help locating a credentialed arborist near you.
Good cultural practices - including proper watering, adequate spacing for air circulation, and avoiding mechanical damage to the trunk - go a long way in preventing many common problems.
* Buy Magnolia Ann from Fast Growing Trees *
* Buy Magnolia Jane from Fast Growing Trees *
Little Girl Magnolia Tree Landscaping Ideas
The versatility of 'Little Girl' magnolias makes them wonderful additions to almost any landscape style. Their compact size and stunning spring display offer numerous design possibilities:
Back of the Border – Plant 'Little Girl' magnolias at the back of a perennial or mixed border garden, where their height provides a beautiful backdrop for lower-growing plants. The spring blooms create a stunning vertical accent, while the green foliage provides structure throughout the summer.
Evergreen Backdrop – Position them in front of an evergreen screening hedge or foundation planting. The dark green background makes the purple-pink flowers absolutely pop in spring, creating a dramatic color contrast that's simply breathtaking.
Specimen Planting – Use a single 'Little Girl' magnolia as a standalone specimen tree next to a patio, deck, or seating area where you can enjoy the flowers up close. Their manageable size makes them perfect for smaller yards where larger magnolias would overwhelm the space.
Garden Focal Point – Plant one as the centerpiece of a garden bed, surrounded by spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, followed by shade-tolerant perennials such as hostas and ferns for summer interest.
Foundation Plantings – The upright, spreading shape of 'Little Girl' magnolias makes them excellent choices for foundation plantings, particularly at the corners of houses where their vertical form softens hard architectural lines without blocking windows.
Fence Line Accent – Plant along a fence line to create visual interest and seasonal color. Their moderate size won't overwhelm the fence, and they provide a beautiful flowering screen.
Entrance Gardens – Frame an entryway or walkway with matching 'Little Girl' magnolias on either side to create a welcoming, symmetrical display that announces the arrival of spring.
Mixed Spring Groupings – If you have a larger outdoor space, create a stunning spring display by grouping 'Little Girl' magnolias with other spring-flowering trees like Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Okame cherry (Prunus'Okame'), or a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Stagger the bloom times for an extended show.
Small Courtyard Gardens – Their compact size makes them ideal for enclosed courtyard gardens or small urban spaces where every square foot counts.
Container Planting – While not common, smaller varieties like 'Ann' can be grown in very large containers on patios or rooftop gardens, though they'll require extra attention to watering and winter protection in colder zones.
These low-maintenance magnolias flower a few weeks later than most, dodging spring frosts for stunning blooms. Image credit @Purdue9394 via Canva.com
Which is the Best Small ‘Little Girl’ Magnolia Tree?
The Little Girl magnolia cultivars can be hard to tell apart. ‘Ann’, ‘Jane’, and ‘Susan’ are the most popular and are widely available at nurseries and garden centers. ‘Jane’ and ‘Susan’ are more tree-like; ‘Ann’ forms a large, compact shrub. ‘Jane’ is the tallest; ‘Judy’ is the smallest; ‘Betty’ is the widest.
‘Ann’ is an early bloomer with reddish purple flowers. Grows 10-12 feet tall and 15 feet wide with a compact, multi-stemmed shrub-like shape.
‘Betty’ blooms in mid-spring, with large reddish-purple flowers with white insides. Forms a wide, round, large shrub up to 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
‘Jane’ has late spring, deep purple flowers with white interiors. Grows into a multi-stemmed, upright small tree, up to 20 feet tall.
‘Judy’ is a mid-spring bloomer sporting reddish purple flowers with cream-colored interiors. Forms a rounded shrub up to 9 feet tall and 13 feet wide.
‘Pinkie’ is a late spring bloomer with pale purple flowers with white interiors. Grows into a round, multi-stemmed shrub up to 10 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
‘Randy’ and ‘Ricki’ are midseason bloomers with a shrublike form and reddish purple flowers with white interiors. Grows up to 10 feet tall and 16 feet wide.
‘Susan’ has fragrant, slightly twisted deep purple with soft white interiors. Forms an upright, small tree and grows up to 15 feet tall and wide.
* Buy Magnolia Ann from Fast Growing Trees *
* Buy Magnolia Jane from Fast Growing Trees *
The Little Girl magnolia trees leaf out after flowering.
Are the ‘Little Girl Magnolias’ Deer-Resistant?
Little Girl Magnolia trees are considered deer-resistant because their leathery leaves and slightly bitter taste tend to discourage browsing.
However, as with all plants, "deer-resistant" doesn't mean "deer-proof". When food is scarce, especially in winter or drought conditions, hungry deer may still nibble on them.
Young magnolias are particularly vulnerable, as their tender new growth can be more appealing to desperate deer.
To protect your trees, consider using physical barriers like fencing, netting, or individual plant cages, especially during their early years of growth.
The Little Girl magnolias have attractive glossy green leaves.
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