It is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Veracruz state in eastern Mexico.

[1] Magnolia vovidesii is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Veracruz state, where it is known from three locations near Ixhuacan de los Reyes.

It typically grows in the understory of forests dominated by species of Weinmannia, Liquidambar, Styrax, and Ternstroemia.

It is threatened by habitat degradation and fragmentation from timber and firewood harvesting and conversion to pasture, coffee plantations, and settlements.

Over 70% of the tropical montane cloud forest in Veracruz has been converted to crops and livestock pasture.