Ashe’s Magnolia
Arbor Walk #92, Treekeeper ID #4775
The Ashe’s Magnolia is a regional native to the Southeastern US and adaptable to the St. Louis Region, typically growing to 10’ to 20’ tall and 10’ to 15’ wide. Botanists in the past considered it a subspecies of Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), but it is now commonly recognized as its own distinct species.
Magnolias are often regarded as ancient trees, and their flowers and fruit are often considered evidence for the evolution of floral reproductive structures before the emergence of bees. North and Central America is among the secondary center of magnolias following central Asia. Magnolias are recognizable through its distinct fruit. As a result of its large leaves, magnolias are best planted in areas with low wind speeds or protection from high winds. While some Asian species are used for seasonings or medicinal purposes, American trees are primarily used for shade trees or for lumber.
| Common Names | Ashe’s Magnolia, Ashe Magnolia |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Magnolia ashei |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.7 | 3/11 | 0.93 | 1.1 | 1.015 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2023 | N/A |
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′).
