Magnolia champaca Seeds | White Champaca
LATIN NAME: Magnolia champaca
COMMON NAME: White Champaca
Plant Profile
White Champaca (Magnolia champaca) is a tall evergreen tree of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae), native to the Himalaya, South and Southeast Asia. It reaches 20-30 m, with glossy, lance-shaped leaves and slender-petalled, creamy-yellow flowers of legendary fragrance, used in perfumery and offered at temples across Asia. The tree is sacred in several cultures, and its flowers are sold daily in markets from India to Indonesia.
Science & Biotechnology
Magnolia champaca sits in the Magnolia group, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Intense flower fragrance of white champaca gives it a recognised place in research on warm-climate fragrant trees of magnolia group, and champaca species appears in studies of flower oil chemistry and perfumery value. The upshot for anyone sowing it is reassurance — cultivated stock of this plant has a long, well-documented track record.
Uses & Benefits
White Champaca brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. In warm, sheltered garden, white champaca incenses warm garden with creamy flowers. Blooms serve perfumes, oils and temple offerings for generations, scent drifts through warm evenings, and tree makes fine specimen. It thrives in deep, moist, well-drained, sunny or lightly shaded ground. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.
Magnolia bark, Hou Po, is a major Chinese herb for moving qi, easing fullness and calming wheeze, and its honokiol and magnolol are among the most studied natural anxiolytic compounds, now appearing in modern supplements and even toothpaste.
Growing from Seed
White Champaca is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
The traditional uses covered above are what first made this species worth cultivating. The medicinal tradition behind this species, outlined above, is a large part of its interest. Young plants want steady water; older plants take conditions as they come.
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