Michelia gracipes
Michelia gracipes, a member of the Magnolia family, is a compact, evergreen shrub admired for its display of highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers, which typically bloom in late winter to early spring. This profusion of blossoms stands out against the plant's background of dark, glossy-green foliage, creating an impressive display. Thriving in full sun to part shade, Michelia gracipes prefers well-drained soil and benefits from a sheltered position. This shrub typically grows to a height of about 3 metres and a spread of around 2 metres, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, borders or as a specimen plant.
Trimming: Prune after flowering in late spring or early summer. This gives the plant time to set flower buds for the following season. Remove dead or damaged stems and any growth that crosses or crowds the centre. Avoid cutting back into thick bare wood, as regrowth from old stems is slow and unreliable.
Hedging and Pleaching: Start shaping while plants are young rather than trying to correct a mature plant. For hedging, trim two or three times through the growing season, taking small amounts each time and keeping the base slightly wider than the top so light reaches the lower growth. Finish trimming by late summer so new growth hardens before frost. For pleaching or standards, select one strong central leader and tie it to a stake, remove side growth from the clear trunk as the plant gains height, and train the remaining laterals along wires or a frame. Trim the head or panel two or three times a season to keep it dense. Water and feed trained and hedged plants more attentively, as regular trimming increases demand on the roots.
Fertilising: Feed with a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring, and again in early summer for hedges and clipped forms. A camellia and rhododendron food suits Michelia well, as it prefers a slightly acid soil. Avoid lime. Keep fertiliser off the trunk and water in well after applying.
Watering: Michelia has a fine, shallow root system and dislikes drying out. Water deeply and regularly through the first two summers, and during dry spells after that. Mulch with compost or bark to hold moisture and keep roots cool, leaving a gap around the trunk. Soil should hold moisture but drain freely.
Pest Control: Monitor for scale insects, mealybugs and greenhouse thrips, which cause silvering or stippling on leaves in sheltered positions. Watch for leafroller caterpillars on new growth in spring. Treat with insecticidal soap, neem oil or horticultural spraying oil, and repeat as directed. Good airflow and regular inspection prevent most problems becoming serious.
Disease Management: Sooty mould often follows scale or mealybug, so treat the insect problem and the mould will clear. Root rot occurs in heavy or waterlogged soil, so improve drainage before planting and avoid overwatering. Leaf spot can appear in humid, crowded conditions, so remove affected leaves and thin growth to improve air circulation. Yellowing leaves with green veins usually indicate the soil is too alkaline, and can be corrected with an acidifying fertiliser or sulphur.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
