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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Hibiscus hamabo Hibiscus hamabo
Ptelea trifoliata Small tree in the landscape.
Stewartia malacodendron Stewartia malacodendron
Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei has some common insect problems:
Magnolia Scale
Yellow Poplar Weevil
Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei has some common disease problems:
Sooty Molds

Deciduous Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei

Previously known as:

  • Magnolia ashei
  • Magnolia macrophylla ssp. ashei
  • Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei
Phonetic Spelling
mag-NO-lee-a
Description

Ashe Magnolia is a large shrub or small understory deciduous tree with very large leaves and attractive white flowers.  It grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet and a width of 8 to 10 feet.  The flowers are large, white, and fragrant appearing in the spring.  It gives a tropical feel to any garden and because it blooms later in the spring than other magnolias, it is not as bothered by frost.  Plant it in the full sun to partial shade, in moist, well drained, rich, acidic soil.   It makes an excellent understory tree.  

You can propagate this plant by seed collecting seeds that have dried on the plant.  They may need stratification to germinate.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Magnolia leaf miners (yellow poplar weevil) are an insect pest. Large leaves can be damaged by wind. The large leaves can be high maintenance in the fall and the branches are weak.

More information on Magnolia macrophylla.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#fragrant flowers#white flowers#showy leaves#large leaves#understory tree#fast growing#large shrub#weak wood#flowers late spring#deciduous tree#flowers early summer#tropical feel
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#fragrant flowers#white flowers#showy leaves#large leaves#understory tree#fast growing#large shrub#weak wood#flowers late spring#deciduous tree#flowers early summer#tropical feel
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Magnolia
    Species:
    macrophylla
    Family:
    Magnoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Fleshy seed bearing cone 2"-4" long and 2" wide. Red seeds are attached by threads to the cones.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Up to 10" solitary creamy white cup-shaped fragrant flowers with purple at the base appear at the end of stout stems. They have 6-8 petals that are 6" long and pointed at the tip. Flowers appear from late spring to early summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Apple green leaves are very large 18"-32" long and tropical looking. The shape is like a violin wider at the tip than toward the base.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Small Tree
    Understory Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Weak Wood