A rare species native only to the Florida panhandle, Ashe magnolia is closely related to the Bigleaf Magnolia but more compact, reaching 10 to 35 feet depending on conditions. The leaves are genuinely enormous, and the large white fragrant flowers that appear in spring carry a tropical quality that feels unexpected in temperate gardens. Because it blooms later than most magnolias, the flowers escape frost damage that commonly hits earlier-flowering relatives.

This is a plant for the understory or a sheltered spot in partial shade, set in moist, well-drained, rich, acidic soil. It flowers at three to four years old, which is early for a magnolia. The species honors William Willard Ashe, a pioneering forester with the U.S. Forest Service. The large leaves are beautiful but require some tolerance: they shed in quantity in fall, the branches are not especially strong, and wind can damage the foliage. Propagation from seed is possible with cold stratification.