Michelia champaca alba

[John in Andalucia]

Native to South Asia and known as the Joy Perfume Tree. Maybe someone down in S. Florida is growing it? Would love to see some examples and perhaps know where seeds are available?

[Eric in Orlando]

We have both M. x alba and M. champaca growing here. They like acidic soil and can be hard to grow in the southern part of FL. These are now members of Magnolia as Michelia was lumped into it. Both have very fragrant flowers but M. x alba seems to flower more. M x alba is a hybrid , M. champaca × M. montana. We also have to cultivars of M. x alba; 'Golden' has white flowers that turn orange and 'Pure Joi' has nice variegated foliage.

Magnolia champaca

Magnolia x alba

[popper1]

As Eric says M. xalba seems a much better bloomer, but seeds are rare. It seems that most trees do not set seed very readily and they are difficult to germinate when they do (giberellic acid does seem to help). M champaca seeds seem to be availble at most of the tropical seed places. Germination is easy if seeds are fresh but they loose their viability quickly. These are great trees that are blooming here now & the smell is amazing. I have those two, Quisqualis indica, & pakalana vines Telosma cordata all in bloom, you can smell the yard all over the neighborhood.

[epicure3]

I have a 20+ foot michelia X alba. Flowers appear most of the year somewhere on the tree. Extremely fast grower here. Planted as a 4 foot tree 4 years ago. Seeds appear from time to time

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks Eric, for the info. My mother is the one interested, and as David says, the scent is said to be out of this world! Finally, epicure3 - that is a beautiful specimen of a tree! Do the leaves stay bright green? Perhaps I can trade someone for seeds when the chance arises.

[epicure3]

Thanks Eric, for the info. My mother is the one interested, and as David says, the scent is said to be out of this world! Finally, epicure3 - that is a beautiful specimen of a tree! Do the leaves stay bright green? Perhaps I can trade someone for seeds when the chance arises.

The leaves stay lustrous and new leaves are extremely soft and very bright green. Springtime will lead to normal leaf drop. The leaves become hard and yellowish, then drop. It can be a pain with a large tree as the leaves don't decompose quickly. B/W March and April, I'm usually out there picking up leaves a couple of days a week. I have no idea if the seeds are viable.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Aren't the M. alba often started as air layers or grafted onto champaca?

Jerry

[Eric in Orlando]

Thats what I thought, that M. x alba is usually grafted. Ours has never set seed but the M. champaca has. Right now it is setting a bunch, I hope they fully form and are viable, a good tree to propagate.

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks for the updates, Jerry and Eric. So all I really need is some seeds of M. champaca and M. montana, and a little patience. Any ideas on how young they can be grafted? (I really keep meaning to learn grafting so I think now is the time!)

[bubba]

Played a golf couse today in North part of Palm Beach County.Noticed numerous Michelia x alba's. Red Flowers and perfumy. I understand the only complaint here is brittle branches in Hurricanes.

[John in Andalucia]

Played a golf couse today in North part of Palm Beach County.Noticed numerous Michelia x alba's. Red Flowers and perfumy. I understand the only complaint here is brittle branches in Hurricanes.

Bubba,

The flowers were red or was it bearing seeds? Here is a photo of some Michelia champaca seeds.

[bubba]

John, That is a good question.I remember Red but never got too close.I know we have many around here and will make it a point to locate and check.Not on point,but just saw a blooming,red Royal Poinciana. WOW!

[John in Andalucia]

John, That is a good question.I remember Red but never got too close.I know we have many around here and will make it a point to locate and check.Not on point,but just saw a blooming,red Royal Poinciana. WOW!

Bubba, That is weird. In the time between my previous post and your above post, I went and bought some Royal Poinciana seeds.

Well back to the point, I've decided to look into tree grafting so I can get a better understanding of hybrids. I believe the seeds of M. champaca and M. montana are not so hard to come by.

[bubba]

John, Andulucia will never be the same when you start making it happen!