Posted by Ron (DE Zone 7a)
on 11/1/2009, 5:11 pm, in reply to "BBB mag"
173.49.160.84
Here are some photos of my Magnolia grandiflora "Brackens Brown Beauty" (BBB) so you can compare. This plant was about 3 feet high when planted in April 2005. Today it is still no more than 10 feet.
The BBB Mag is known for having denser branching and being slower growing than the typical Southern Magnolia. It's ultimate size is about 2/3 the size of a typical Magnolia grandiflora. It's leaves and flowers are similarly smaller-size. So BBB is about intermediate between a typical Southern Magnolia and "Little Gem" (which can get 25 feet high ultimately). 
Note the leavf edges of BBB are slightly wavey, which exposes the brown undersides. 
Here is a Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem". They are very popular in Delaware, where I live. This one growing between buildings is somewhat open-branched but they can also be densely branched when grown more in the open. The leaves of "Little Gem" are a little smaller than BBB but I think the leaves do not have the wavey edges as much.
If Magnolia grandiflora in your photo is in Zone 6 and not going brown in the winter, I'd say it has to be a hardier cultivar, like BBB. "Little Gem" is known for being on the less hardy side.
Another possibility is "Kay Paris", which is like intermediate in size between BBB and "Little Gem" - in fact, those 2 varieties are thought to be it's parents, the BBB side giving it extra hardiness. Here's a "Kay Parris" from the Dave's Garden Web Site: 
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