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Magnolia champaca

champ wood

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

Other common names

champaca
champak
see morefragrant champac
pand oil plant
sapu

Synonyms

Michelia champaca

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Ultimate height

Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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)

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

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