Thanks so much for the replies. The reason for the dwarf is space. I saw Teddy Bear recently and really liked the dark color of the leaves. It was standing next to Little Gem, and there wasn't much difference, though TB might have been a bit darker. I initially liked Alta because of its upright form, which would work well in my space, but from what I understand, TB and LG might also be upright? I wish I could order some of the more interesting varieties, but I want as large a size as I can afford right now, and I'm afraid shipping would be prohibitive on that. I just talked to someone today who said LG is hardy in my area. So if TB and LG are also upright like Alta, then I have 3 choices which work in terms of size and form. I just don't know how to decide among them. Is one faster growing than the others, maybe? Thanks again.

Yes, I was going to say the same thing. It was planted way too deep and then, to add insult to injury, had mulch all the way up to the trunk. * Never plant a tree any deeper than it was in its container. * No new soil should be placed on top of roots when a tree is planted. * Mulch should always be pulled back about five or six inches from the trunk (unless you are protecting a plant from a freeze.) This is a very old photo, but see how my magnolia is planted on a mound and the top of the root flare is (barely) visible? I think your magnolia will do much better now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! :) Carol in Jacksonville

at brandons link.. find out that you plant HIGH in clay.. actually about HALF the rootmass.. and make a berm .. so that the roots above get air.. as compared to the roots in the clay ... what this accomplishes.. is that a plant.. can put its roots down into clay.. what they can not always cope with.. is you putting its whole rootmass down in clay ... so we give things a chance by doing half and half.. also.. if you basically put a big pot worth of a PEAT based media that holds water.. and your clay holds water in spring.. then your hole is probably.. holding too much water .. at certain times of the year ... NEVER FORGET ... the problem.. is NOT necessarily when you see the result.. the root problem could have been months ago ... next to your name.. i wish it gave the closest big city. rather than NONE .. so we would know where you are ... i cant commit everyone locale to memory ... heck.. i dont know where i am half the time ... lol and forget about comparing two of anything.. even duplicates.. why one has problems.. lost likely.. will never be solved.. short of digging it up,.. and finding out what is going on underground.. and that we can not predict with any certainty ... if it were me.. and it is in a prime location.. i cant tell from the pic.. i would move it.. in fall .. back more out of sight .. and the transplanting.. may rectify the whole situation .... and try again.. with a specimen tree for the center of the grass ... bottom line.. it can live.. i just dont know if i would want to be fixating on it.. every single day of my life ... [the spot light cracks me up .. lol .. at least move that to a prime specimen .. lol .. you cant even get away from it in the dark .. lol .. ] good luck ken

Perhaps 'unethical' is a better term than 'illegal'.....although illegality will still come into play with any patented cultivars even if it is highly unlikely the plant police will come knocking on your door :-) The issue is that with most woody plants - and my previous comments were directed only at these - named cultivars seldom (like hardly ever) come true from seed. Even if they look identical to the parent there is no guaratee that they are or will remain looking so throughout their lifespan. Assigning the cultivar name to seedlings of that cultivar - rather than those that have been vegetatively propagated - and introducing them into commerce just distorts and dilutes the validity of that cultivar. We see this all the time with seed grown "cultivars" of Japanese maples, 'Bloodgood' being at the top of the list. As much as they may look like Bloodgoods, they are a just a red leafed version of Acer palmatum. Nothing wrong with seed grown JM's.......or Magnolia grandiflora or any of countless other named cultivars of most other tree species. This is often where new cultivars arise.....a random seedling that offers some unique attributes. But it is never valid/appropriate/ethical (and in the case of a patented plant, legal) to call these seedlings by the parent cultivar name.