Chempaka (Magnolia Champaca)

Note that this is dwarfing variety so wont grow too tall and perfect in garden container or pretty looking pot by your outdoor dining or pool area.

Magnolia Champaca, known in English as champak, is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. It was previously classified as Michelia champaca. It is known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking. In Magnolia family Champaka is the rarest variant and the hardest to graft with only 10-20% of success rate, hence this plant is highly sought after.

Although the Champaca is a lovely tree, it’s the scent from its nonshowy flowers that will linger in your memory. The only thing harder than describing the scent of the Champaca’s blooms would be describing the scent of your newborn baby. Breathe in, and you’ve arrived at a place of purity, peace and happiness.

Himalayan region and subtropics of India, Champaca has jasmine like blooms that locals use as offerings during prayers and rituals because they believe the heady scent rises up to heaven to get the gods’ attention as they ask for good fortune. This scent will permeate the air on warm, humid nights, or infuse your hair when you adorn it with a single bloom. A home can be scented by floating blossoms in bowls of water here and there around the house, or try it on your bedside table for a good night’s sleep.

So prized is the scent that essential oil from the Champaca’s blossoms is blended with the oils of more than 600 roses to make the world’s most expensive perfume, Joy by Jean Patou. As a landscape plant, this member of the magnolia family can resemble an avocado tree. While useful to disguise fences and a reliable semitropical foundation plant for the backyard, Champaca is probably best grown in pots so you can move them into courtyards and near doorways and windows to welcome guests with their delicious fragrance.

Tibetans believe the Buddha of the next era will find enlightenment under the flower canopy of the Champaca tree. I believe you can share in the enlightenment by taking the opportunity now to plant and enjoy this beautiful tree.

Plant Care

• Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, particularly in hot, dry weather.
• Temperature: Best in warm climates, between 20°C and 30°C. Protect from cold drafts and frost.
• Light: Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
• Fertilising: Use a balanced NPK fertilizer like 10-10-10 every other month during the growing season. Supplement with iron if leaves show chlorosis.
• Pruning: Prune to shape the tree and remove dead or diseased branches annually.
• Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• Pest Control: Check for aphids and scale insects, treat with horticultural oils as necessary.
• Flowering and Fruiting: Known for its highly fragrant flowers used in perfumes; does not typically produce fruit.
• Potting: Can be grown in large pots, but it is usually better suited to being planted in the ground.
• Feeding Regime: Regular feeding helps promote vigorous growth and abundant flowering.