PlantFiles: Ashe Magnolia, Ashe's Magnolia
Magnolia ashei

I planted magnolia ashi 4 years ago on the hill in the back yard, which is a protected area with morning sun. It is going to bloom this year for the first time and it is doing fantastic for my zone 5. How is it that an endangered species can only exist in the pan-handle of Florida, but still survive in northern ohio? Great conversation plant

One spring I purchased my Ashei, Magnolia mail-order it was 9-11" tall single trunk finger thick 1 gallon.
The neighborhood is old growth trees and evergreens, very sheltered. I planted in my front yard near my neighbors' blacktop driveway under a mature Oak so it gets full sun in the morning and afternoon.
The first leaves to pop out where shocking. They where very big even for size and shaped like a small chartreuse violins.
That winter I protected with a pile of oak leaves and an overturned 25 gallon nursery pot secured with plant stakes for the first rough NY cold season.
The next spring, I slowly looked under the pot and It was as green as could be! That year It's leaves became "full-size" chartreuse violins! By the end of the growing season It was one trunk about 18"-20". For that winter I put two med. plant stakes on either side and only when the temps or wind or snow/ice would get harsh I would cover with plastic (making sure It wasn't touching the plastic). With Oak leaves as my mulch.
In the next spring, It had one huge bud which opened into this huge white Magnolia flower. After bloom expired I cut off seed pod. Then it grew into three branches. The undersides if leaves and newer branch growth have a soft white powdery velvet look. People would stop when they walked by to look at it. (I have a lot of dramatic plants but they never stopped before.) When the breeze blows it flashes you with the white undersides, stunning! This winter was pretty mild till the end, then it got ugly. Biting my nails the whole time, I decided not to protect. Now it is April and there are three fat juicy flower buds at the end of each of the branches. In the nodes on the branches where the leave stems were attached the previous year , all now have leave/branch buds.
This has been a wonderful Magnolia. Hard to imagine everyone not wanting one, if in It's range. Also note worthy is that it seems to be pest free. Sometimes a nasty Japanese beetle will nibble but not too bad. The wind hasn't caused to much shredding, the leaves are pretty tough for being so large. The fall color is incredible, those chartreuse violins become solid bright yellow.
In the fall I only get to enjoy the yellow for a minute, then the acorns begin to demolish what was a spectacular growing season!

Live lush, Mantis212

These native beauties are endangered. I currently have 3 growing in my yard, and they are all doing great. The bloom is a large, unique white flower that often weighs down the plant because it so heavy. In the winter, they shed all their leaves, but don't mistake this for a problem. They are slow growing, but well worth the effort!

I planted this endangered tree which is found only in the Florida Panhandle in the fall of 2005 and I have a beautiful 10 inch bloom on my (only) 1 foot tall tree. Partial shade and well-drained soil are required as well as a sheltered site since strong winds can shred the papery leaves and break the brittle branches. The flowers are showy, with several long creamy white petals with a little purple at the base and very fragrant. In the wild, the Ashe Magnolia grows in the understory on slopes of ravines often in association with American Hophornbeam, Two-winged Silverbells, and Red Buckeye.