By David Wall
Most people looking for trees want something that will quickly grow very fast, get very big & wide, and provide a lot of shade. Yet there are those of us who might like something smaller but yet could provide shade on a smaller scale. Well, there is such a tree, and it’s called Ashe’s Magnolia (Magnolia ashei).
Ashe’s Magnolia, or AM for short, barely makes the definition of a tree, in that it rarely grows above 20 feet, which is the minimum for a plant to move from shrub to tree status. In the wild, they can reach 30’, but not usually when in an urban environment. The beauty of AM lies in its leaves. At over 24 inches long and up to 12 inches wide, calling them large is an understatement! They are somewhat pale green on top and powdery white underneath. Since the tree is deciduous, every fall, you get a nice crop of leaves for mulching the garden or placed in the compost bin.
In our area, one is often looking for afternoon shade for our vegetable garden. Well, a row of these on the west side of a garden can provide afternoon shade.
Like other magnolias, AMs flower in the spring, and they also mature early, being able to flower at 3-4 years. The 6 inch flower petals tend to bend back at the tips, thus giving the flowers a starfish appearance. Their aroma is jasmine and citrus scented.
AMs like either full sun or partial shade, good soil, especially soil that doesn’t get waterlogged, particularly in the winter. With leaves so big, high winds may cause damage, but surrounding trees can help prevent such damage.
Your local nursery will probably have neither seeds nor seedlings, so Google Ashe’s Magnolia seeds and you’ll find several sources!