Leaf Identification
The leaves of the Ashe’s Magnolia are a medium green color and very large. They can be anywhere between 18″ to 30″ long. They have somewhat whitish hairs on the lower surface. Lastly they have pinnate veins and an entire margin.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twigs of the Ashe’s Magnolia usually have very big leave scars on them. The buds are covered with whitish hair (pubescent).
Bark Identification
The Ashe’s Magnolia has thin, gray bark with a smooth texture.
Fruit Identification
The Ashe’s Magnolia has egg-shaped to rounded seed pods (capsules) that have a pink tint to them. The fruit is almost cone-like. It is an example of an aggregate fruit which means it comes from one flower but forms multiple seeds. The red seeds are typically visible in September.
[photo forthcoming]
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Ashe’s Magnolia are white with purple bases. They have a large-cup flower shape. It is very fragrant.
[photo forthcoming]
ID Tips
- Ashe’s Magnolia has much larger leaves than most Magnolia species, besides those of Umbrella Magnolia and Bigleaf Magnolia.
- The leaves round at the base, instead of the leaf margins forming an acute angle at the base. This is unlike the Umbrella Magnolia, which has a pointed leaf base.
- Compared to its closest relative, Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), the fruit of Ashe’s Magnolia is often thinner, the leaf is shorter, and the overall tree height (15′-30′) is shorter compared to the Bigleaf Magnolia (30′-40′).