Little gem ( Magnolia grandiflora ' Little Gem ' ) is a diversity of the southern magnolia . It is a heavyset , shrub - like Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that will reach a stature of 30 to 35 feet . A various little tree , little jewel can be used as privacy hedge , in containers and as a specimen in the residential landscape painting . In spring and summertime picayune gem offers fragrant , bloodless flowers which can create a chip of a mess when they decrease from the tree . Overall , little jewel is a low - upkeep works that is n’t particular about soil , can be uprise in sun or tincture and is reasonably drouth - tolerant . Although not gravel by pests , little gemstone is susceptible to several diseases .
Canker
Nectria canker , a fungal disease , is transmitted to the small gem magnolia via injuries on the trunk or branches . Symptoms of this disease include rounded lesions that look like targets , and dead or decaying bark . If not treat , the canker will eventually propagate and kill the tree . keep Nectria canker by keep the tree diagram healthy through proper watering and fertilization . Treatment for the disease involves clip the morbid branch several inch below the pestilence . If the canker is on the trunk , make out into it and take away any diseased wood . Burn any infected wood that you dispatch from the tree .
Verticillium wilt
Verticillium wilt disease is a soil - borne fungal disease that attacks the root and diffuse throughout the tree via the xylem , clogging the system as it as it propagate . Symptoms of verticullium wilt include wilted and curl up leaves that may turn yellowed and dead branches . This disease , for which there is no therapeutic , may leave in the death of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
take and destroy any morbid branches , and get rid of all decrease leave and other debris from around the fundament of the tree . To forbid verticullium wilt , water and fertilize the little gem tree consistently and regularly to keep it goodish . Fertilizer low in atomic number 7 and high in atomic number 19 seems to strengthen the tree diagram against the disease . Always unsex pruning cloth prior to usance on the small jewel magnolia .
Algal Leaf Spot
This disease , because of parasitic alga , is most common in the southeast part of the United States , where it is hot and humid . symptom include raised patches on the leaves that can be either gray-haired , brown or yellow . leaf will loop and fall from the tree .
The first step in dealing with an infected niggling gem magnolia is to crease up and demolish all fall leaves . cut back any trees that are in close proximity to allow unspoiled air flow around the little gem . concerted university extension broker with the University of Arkansas suggest using a fungicide atomiser , such as cop hydroxide , and insure the integral Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with the spray . Read and follow recording label directions when using fungicides .
