This is a flower now blooming on my Magnolia champaca or Joy Perfume Tree from the tree at the right. It has dozens of blooms ready to pop, but the above is the first one!
Joy Perfume is the most expensive perfume and the fragrance comes from the flowers of this tree!
It grows quite tall, unless it is pruned, and can have thousands of blooms. If you like fragrance in your garden, this is a tree to consider.
Six available shown in pots below. grayriverfarms@yahoo.com
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I am still looking for the Aphlendra Sinclaria by the way :)
This is my first experience with this tree, so I do not know how long the flowers last. From wikipedia:
Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak,[3] is a large evergreen tree in the Magnoliaceae family.
Fragrance[
The flowers are used in Southeast Asia for several purposes. Especially in India, they are primarily used for worship at temples whether at home or out, and more generally worn in hair by girls and women as a means of beauty ornament as well as a natural perfume. Flowers are used to be floated in bowls of water to scent the room, as a fragrant decoration for bridal beds, and for garlands.
The tree was traditionally used to make fragrant hair and massage oils. Jean Patou’s famous perfume, 'Joy,' the second best selling perfume in the world after Chanel No. 5, is derived in part from the essential oils of champaca flowers. The vernacular name Joy Perfume Tree comes from this.[5] Many niche perfumers are now once again using Champaca Absolute as single note fragrances.
Timber
In its native India and Southeast Asia, champaca is logged for its valuable timber.[5] It has a finely textured, dark brown and olive-colored wood, which is used in furniture making, construction, and cabinetry.[5]
The species is protected from logging in some provinces of India, especially in the Southwestern region, where certain groves are considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists.[5]
Cultivation[edit]
Magnolia champaca is cultivated by specialty plant nurseries as an ornamental plant, for its form as an ornamental tree, as a dense screening hedge, and for its fragrant flowers.[7] It is planted in the ground in tropical and in subtropical climate gardens, such as in coastal Southern and Central California.[5][7] It is planted in containers in cooler temperate climates.[5] It requires full sun and regular watering.
The fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.[7] Its aril-covered seeds are highly attractive to birds.[15]
From USEFUL TROPICAL PLANTS
MAGNOLIA champaca
A plant of the wet tropics and subtropics, It is found growing at elevations from near sea level to 2,100 metres.
Requires a sunny position in a moist but well-drained, deep, fertile, loamy to sandy soil.
Interesting characteristics:
It flowers through out the year and a yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.
Its aromatic and bitter bark is sometimes used for the adulteration of cinnamon.
The bark is used to dispel or reduce fever,
A decoction of the bark and leaves is given after childbirth.
The flowers are used to treat leprosy.
The leaves are useful as a treatment against colic.
The seeds can be used to treat badly chapped skin.
Champaca is good for the soil because nitrogen fixing mycorrhizae have been observed on the roots. Soil under tree cover shows an increase in pH, organic carbon and available phosphorus. The tree is used to reforest badly eroded areas in Java. The leaf extract is toxic to the rice fungus, Pyricularia oryzae.
For how long do they bloom, Betty?
Our Magnolias here (way up North) are blooming for maximum three days then there is a big mess on the ground...