Your Michelia tree is a tender member of the gardenia family but those fragrant blooms are worth the winter protection that this tree needs to survive. If you live in a tropical climate where winter does not go below 32 degrees then by all means transplant your potted tree into the ground. It is a fast growing tree in it's native tropical climate. If you have colder winters transplant the tree into a larger container and move it indoors or into a greenhouse for the winter. You can prune it back by up to one third in the spring to make it fit under your covered patio. Do not prune in fall as you do not want to stimulate winter growth. Enjoy your rare and fragrant magnolia and Keep growing, Marianne Binetti