Cananga odorata

[metalfan]

This is my Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) tree. It's growing in a space by the stream. Its almost 12 ft tall. It hasn;t bloomed yet.

When can I expect flowers??? I can't wait for that heavenly fragrance!

[ariscott]

It shouldn't be too long... My friends' tree flowered about that size. Do you plant it very close to the house?? The fragrance can be intoxicating.... . I can't wait for mine to flower too...

Regards, Ari

[neoflora]

I have one planted in a garden we did years ago. I can't believe it is growing. I brought the seeds 15 years ago from Costa Rica. The tree is now about 15 feet tall. It took freezing temperatures last year. No flowers yet. Planted in San Juan Capistrano, California.

[fastfeat]

Ron--

Never saw this tree grown successfully in SoCal! What did it do in the cold last year? Any defoliation or dieback? At what temps?

[Peter]

Leon at XOTX also planted one outside a couple of years ago in a very favoured climate in Beverly Hills; also about 10' tall so far but no flowers.

[Jeff Searle]

My best guess would be several more feet, maybe a couple more years by the look of it in the picture.

Jeff

[metalfan]

Wahhhh....

That's just one year's growth. It was a less than knee high seedling last year this time

[Gbarce]

The flowers don't look like typical flowers.  They kind of look like a small cluster of pale strappy little leaflets.  You could easily miss it but the fragrance should draw your attention.

Its oils are a main ingedient for Canel No.5 - supposedly one of the most expensive perumes on the market.

Enjoy your tree!

[palmmermaid]

I bought the other species - the dwarf one.  I can't remember the name now.  Anyway it has already bloomed and is only 4 feet tall.  It only gets about 10 feet.  Since the C. odoratas didn't fare very well in the hurricanes, I didn't want another tree that blows down so I got the smaller version.

I saw these in St. Vincent and they were in full bloom.  It was overpowering.