Hello, You may find this worth a look, Magnolia sieboldii (Oyama Magnolia)a deciduous shrub 2-4 m. tall...slow growing and very fragrant white lantern flowers....excellent for small gardens...
My favorite is Magnolia figo, Banana Shrub. It's evergreen and the flowers smell like ripe bananas. The plant is typically sold as Michelia figo. Protection may be needed though even in relatively warm Victoria.
The common "small" magnolias are star, lily, the Kosar/de Vos hybrids between them, and to a lesser extent Oyama magnolia. All may become large shrubs over 10' tall in time, or even small trees 15'-35' tall. Star magnolias in this range are not rare on sites that have been gardened long enough.
