Magnolia champaca

RHS Plant Profile

champ wood

Other common names

champaca, champak, fragrant champac, pand oil plant, sapu

Synonyms

Michelia champaca

Shrubs Trees

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A large, tender, fast-growing, evergreen shrub or tree which can reach to a height of 40m in its native surroundings, with slightly drooping, glossy dark green leaves. Masses of gorgeously sweet, fragrant, orange to golden yellow flowers appear in the spring. Primarily grown in warmer parts of Asia and unlikely to survive outdoors in the UK. The oil from the flowers is used as an ingredient in perfumes in Asia

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Magnoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S India to SC China and Lesser Sunda Is.

How to Grow

Cultivation

Cold-sensitive variety which is unlikely to grow well in the British climate. Resents root disturbance. See magnolia cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings or propagate by seed. Success rates with both are generally extremely low - cuttings from mature plants may not flower for 1 to 2 years. Plants grown via seed may take up to 10 years to flower

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Sub-tropical

Pruning

Prune to retain the shape and health of the tree; see magnolia pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot