Michelia champaca/Orange

[bubba]

After hearing about and asking about Ylang-Ylang, I researched another tree referred to as the Joy Perfume Tree. Apparently, it is even more intensely fragrant than the Ylang-Ylang and blooms nearly all year. It is indigenous to Indonesia and India. Any grower's stories of experiences with this tree?

[fastfeat]

Bubba--

These trees are very popular in SoCal, especially in Asian neighborhoods. I've seen a few here in FL and they seem to do pretty well. Probably best on amended, slightly acidic soil here. They're related to Magnolias, none of which enjoy limestone. There should be some for sale at The Ramble this weekend at Fairchild.

[bubba]

Fastfeat/Ken, Thank you again.

[fastfeat]

No problem. Let me know if you want me to pick one up for you. I'll be at The Ramble all weekend.

[BigFrond]

Hey Bubba,

The white flower mechelia's fragrance is much more intense than the yellow.  The white also has nicer, green leaves and it is more expensive.  I have two in my yard.

[Eric in Orlando]

The white one, M. x alba, also flowers more, on and off from spring to early winter. M. champaca seems to have 1 or 2 heavy flowerings during summer.

There is also M. baillonii that is similar with white flowers. Asiatic Nursery is selling a hybrid of this with M. champaca with striking variegated foliage called 'Pure Joi'.

[swamptreenelly]

We have white, yellow and Doltsopa growing in Fremont and Newark Ca. Zone 17. I think the white was most tender but recovered from 24 degrees last Dec. Here is a link to the Doltsopa. I here the white (Alba) is most fragrant, The Hindo men put the extract in their turbines to attract women, Like a phermone?

http://www.fremontica.com/roadsid....t_n=423

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

It is a great tree that gets very big.  I thought maybe 35' when I planted it but it is 35' tall after only about 7 years.  Then I saw a 100 footer in Hawaii. At least 75' canopy.  They are pretty wind resistant, ours losing only one branch in the hurricanes a few years ago, but going on a slight tilt.  I understand they have been moved into the Magnolia genus.

Jerry

[fastfeat]

M. doltsopa is a Himalayan (?) tree that thrives in CA and is very showy in bloom and attrtive in foliage as well too. I haven't seen it in FL; I'd suspect it's better in cooler areas.

Jerry--

Any mineral (iron) deficiency issues on M. champaca on, I assume, limestone soils in Deerfield Beach?

[mppalms]

I grow a Michelia champaca that's a bit over 15 ft. tall.  It had no issue with 28 deg. F four nights in a row this last Jan. (didn't even defoliate) and it doesn't mind even heavy winter rain.  Unfortunately, it is less tolerant of drought and it suffered some leaf loss and tip dieback when my irrigation system croaked while my wife and I were out of town this summer.

I get the sense that it wants warmer nights, since it grows pretty slowly.  The flowers are also more fragrant on warmer nights, though I haven't yet discovered a regular flowering pattern.  Probably a better bet for SoCal.

Jason

[daxin]

The whole Magnolia(including Michelia, Manglietia, Talauma, etc.) family has many interesting fragrant trees and shrubs. In recent years, many new species has become available in the U.S. Some notable ones are:

1) Magnolia coco is a six feet shrub that can be kept as a house plant. Its flowers only last one or two days but is very fragrant.

2) Magnolia odoratissima is a sub-tropical tree from southern Yunnan. I am trying a seedling and is eagerly waiting for the first bloom.

3) Manglietia aromatica is another sub-tropical tree from China. I've only read about it.

4) Michelia maudiae has large white flowers and is a good evergreen landscape tree for Zone 9.