Ashe’s Magnolia. This has to be one of our most intriguing native Magnolias which grows in only 6 counties of the Florida panhandle. It reminds one of a small M. macrophylla. It has leaves up to 24" long, shaped somewhat like a violin with silvery undersides. But without a doubt its most incredible asset is its 10" fragrant white flowers on plants as small as 1 foot. It will usually flower in 3 to 4 years from seed, so one can count on flowers on very small plants. I would consider it a large multi-trunked shrub to a small tree, where it can reach up to 12-15' in our life time, but a mature plant can mature at 30' high with an equal spread. It is considered the rarest of our native Magnolias. Fall color is yellow. Give it good drainage and uniform moisture for best growth. Sun to part shade.
Growing Instructions for Ashe’s Magnolia
The seeds have a period of dormancy and need to be cold stratified to break their dormancy. The seeds are stored in a refrigerator so they have already been stratified. The seeds need to be planted when received or stored in a refrigerator until they are planted. 1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board. 2. Soak the seed in water for several hours. 3. Place the seeds in a plastic bag and seal it. Store the bag in a refrigerator for two months. 4. Fill a pot with potting soil. Use a pot that has drainage holes in the base. 5. Sow the seeds on the soil and cover them with a thin layer of soil. 6. Water the container and leave it to drain. 7. Put the pot in a warm, sunny area. 8. Water the pot regularly so that the soil is moist but not wet. 9. The seedlings can be transplanted when they are a few inches tall.