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port wine magnolia spacing

Choosing the right port wine magnolia spacing is essential for growing healthy, bushy plants with abundant fragrant flowers. Whether you’re planting a hedge for privacy, creating a feature specimen, or adding structure to your garden, knowing how far apart to plant your Michelia figo ensures your port wine magnolia will thrive for years to come. Careful consideration of spacing not only influences the health and growth of your plants, but also impacts the overall appearance of your landscape.

A Michelia figo (Port Wine Magnolia) plant with pink blushed flowers and dark green foliage.

Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia)

5 from 2 customers

Michelia figo, commonly known as the Port Wine Magnolia, is a compact evergreen tree prized for its delightfully fragrant, cream-white flowers and glossy foliage. Ideal for hedging, screening, or as a specimen tree, it brings year-round beauty and subtle perfume to New Zealand gardens. This hardy and low-maintenance plant thrives in well-drained soil and adds elegance to both formal and informal landscapes.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Trees
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 2.00 m
Flowering time: Spring, Winter
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
Ajuga 'Port Wine' plant in a pot for sale at The Plant Company.

Ajuga 'Port Wine'

Ajuga 'Port Wine' brings deep wine coloured foliage and vivid blue flower spikes to NZ gardens, creating a rich tapestry of colour in shaded and semi shaded areas. This hardy ground cover spreads steadily to form a dense carpet that suppresses weeds and adds year round interest. It is ideal for borders, underplanting trees, or filling gaps between shrubs. Ajuga 'Port Wine' is an easy care plant that offers striking colour and dependable performance.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 20 cm
Spread: 60 cm
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Tolerances: Coastal
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical, Woodland
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Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Ajuga, Grape, Hemerocallis, Magnolia Michelia and Weigela, or related Categories - Grapevines, Groundcover Plants, Perennials, Deciduous Shrubs Evergreen Trees and Magnolia Trees.

Search port wine magnolia spacing

Optimal Spacing for Port Wine Magnolia

For best results, port wine magnolia spacing should be between 1 to 1.5 metres apart when planting as a hedge. This dense spacing encourages plants to grow together, forming a lush, evergreen barrier ideal for screens or borders. If you prefer to grow a single specimen, allow two to three metres of space around your Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia) to showcase its full, bushy form and keep airflow optimal.

Keep in mind that port wine magnolia has a slow to moderate growth rate, eventually reaching 2 to 4 metres tall and 1 to 2 metres wide. Providing enough spacing early on helps prevent overcrowding and disease, while also making it easier to shape your hedge or feature plant as it matures.

How Spacing Affects Growth and Health

Adequate port wine magnolia spacing ensures each plant receives sufficient sunlight and nutrients, encouraging robust growth and more prolific flowering. Crowding can lead to poor airflow, increasing the risk of fungal diseases and pest problems. Planting at the recommended distance also makes pruning and maintenance easier, helping keep your magnolias in top condition.

When laying out your garden, consider how quickly you want your hedge or specimen to fill in. Tighter spacing (around 1 metre) will create a denser screen faster, while wider spacing allows individual plants to develop more naturally.

Complementary Plants and Other Magnolias

Port wine magnolias combine beautifully with other evergreen and flowering shrubs. For a cohesive garden design, consider pairing your Michelia figo with interesting groundcovers like Ajuga 'Port Wine', which offers contrasting foliage and ground-hugging growth. Or add pops of colour and a variety of forms with other magnolias such as Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia), Magnolia Old Port, or the striking Magnolia delavayi (Chinese Evergreen Magnolia).

Tips for Planting Your Port Wine Magnolia

To get the most from your port wine magnolia spacing:

Whether you’re creating a fragrant hedge or a standout feature plant, getting your port wine magnolia spacing right will pay off with healthy plants and beautiful displays for years to come. For more information or to find premium plants, visit our Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia) page.


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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

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