banana shrub (michelia figo magnolia)

[dukeofdoom]

For a very long time I've been looking for a plant suitable for an ever green hedge that flowers, that can also handle being pruned into a box shaped formal hedge.

This has to be the nicest plant for this purpose I've found yet.
Here's an example:

http://www.houzz.com/Michelia-figo-hedge/

and what the magnolia like flowers look like

http://kiyanti2008.wordpress.com/tag/banana-shrub/

I've also read reports of it surviving in zone 7. It might be typically outside of my zone, but I'd like to order one plant to see if it will over winter.
Anyone know who might sell/ship this plant to Canada?

[seedscanada]

Duke, Magnolia figo is rated USDA 8a. Don't do it.

It is nice though.

What about Prunus laurocerasus. The cherry laurel. Good to zone 6 broadleaf evergreen bush, some cultivars up to 15 feet tall.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/7162635174/" title="IMG-20120507-00649 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7162 ... f33c26.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="IMG-20120507-00649"></a>

http://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/pro ... erasus.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duxburyrambler/5555654616/

[dukeofdoom]

Thank you, that plant looks nice, I haven't considered cherry laurel before. The other plant I was thinking about using was camellia, because of the large flowers and dark glossy leaves. But, I'm not sure if I can prune the camellias into a nice box shape, like the cherry laurel. The hedge would be maintained at 4 to 5 feet heigh in zone 6b/7a.