bigleaf magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla

Here's the champ! Bigleaf magnolia! Those flowers can be 18 inches across and the leaves can be three feet long, although both are most often a little less extreme. These are the largest leaves and flowers of any plant native to North America. The Cherokee made an infusion of the aromatic bark to ease indigestion, or the fumes could be inhaled to help congestion. Bigleaves grow in AL, AR, DE, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, and VA. Cultivated, Washtenaw Co MI, 6/8/21. Magnolia family.