Want Them All

The scent is similar to plumeria, but better imo. Here are 2 photos. The flower pictured is dying. Fresh flowers have the same length, white petals, just more rigid.

Thanks,

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D_&_T

looks nice!

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coast crab

Magnolia (Michelia) champaca, probably. Maybe alba.

Russell

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island cassie

Not sure - but I think it might be ylang ylang - that they use for the perfume "Joy". OK Russell - we posted at the same time and mine was just a guess!

coast crab

Actually, I just read the post. White flowers = alba. I had a nice one about 5' tall and lost it in a minor freeze, not very cold hardy!

R

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chong

Yes, Michelia Champaca, var. Alba. The Magnolia Society reclassified this as a Magnolia, even though this plant produces blooms at the node at the base of the leaf petiole, as opposed to the end of a stem that is usually the characteristic of the Magnolia. The common name for this plant is the Joy Perfume Tree. The yellow variety produces viable seeds while the Alba does not. I have several of this plant and they are great bloomers. Definitely better fragrance than Plumeria - lingering, but not overpowering. Close rival is the Jasminium Sambac - "Grand Duke of Tuscany".

The plant shown in my Avatar is this plant, M. Alba.

chong

Russell,
While I have not tried it in direct snow, most of my M. Alba are in an unheated greenhouse and they do quite well. Some are even blooming all Winter, though I'm only in Zone 8.

tasanas

I only know its name in thai, it is called 'jampee'. There are three varieties, white, mild yellow, and yellow flowers. The tree can grow as tall as 20 ft., do not too much waater. tasanas

Want Them All

Thanks guys for the help. The plant pictured is from my aunt's yard. Mine is much smaller, about 2' tall, still in a pot. When I first brought it home, there was a period of several days of severe wind, all the leaves got blown off. I built a screen around the pot, and several new leaves sprouted. I'm trying to grow it in the pot some more before putting it in ground. I really like the fragrance. I heard that the yellow flowers do not have any scent, is that true?

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chong

The yellow flowered Michelia Champaca has some scent, very pleasant also, just not the same as the Alba. It is more fruity fragrance. Also, unless you get a grafted yellow plant, it'll be pretty big before it blooms from seed. Did you get yours from Ranch 99 grocery store? Just wondering.

Since your Mom's plant is pretty big, you can get some air-layers from it. It'll produce more flowers if you thin it out a little.

Want Them All

I bought mine from a swap meet. It already had 2 flowers at that time. What does "air layers" mean?

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chong

Air layering is a method of plant propagation by splitting, or nicking a portion of a stem of the plant, then wrapping the "wound" with soil or other medium, and an impermeable membrane like plastic, tin can, etc. to hold the medium. When the stem has sufficiently rooted in the medium, the stem is cut below the wound and planted in a pot or the ground after removing the outer cover/membrane.

Check out the link on this thread: Air Layering

Want Them All

Sweet!
Thank you for the info,

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musaboru

Wow! Thats a very nice looking specimen and looks like it must of costed at least a benjamin!

Want Them All

It's been in ground for a few years, so I don't know how much it was when she bought it.

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