Magnolia champaca aka Champak Tree

Magnolia champaca, or champaca, belongs to the magnolia family. This tree stays green all year. Its native range spans southern India, south-central China and the Lesser Sunda Islands. It grows in rain forests, from lowlands to mountains. Its older name is Michelia champaca. People across the tropics grow it for scent and timber.

The tree grows fast, with branches that point up. Its narrow crown forms a cone or column. In forests, the trunk grows long and straight. The dark green leaves shine and droop a little. RHS lists garden heights above 39 feet [12 metres]. It gives a spread of 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. Native trees can reach 131 feet [40 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants lists trees as tall as 164 feet [50 metres].

The spring flowers range from orange to golden-yellow. They have a strong, sweet scent. Beetles carry pollen between the flowers. The fruits split open and show their orange seeds. Birds eat the seeds. People use the blooms in rites of faith. They also wear them in their hair. The flowers yield yellow dye and oil for perfume. The leaves yield another oil, and the wood provides timber. People plant it along streets and as a garden feature. They also use plantings to help restore forests.

Champaca needs warmth and shelter from harsh weather. It grows in full sun or part shade. It suits clay, loam and sand with acid or neutral pH. The soil must drain well but hold some moisture. RHS rates it H2: it withstands cool weather, but not freezing. It is unlikely to live outdoors in Britain. Do not disturb its roots. Prune to keep its shape and health. Grow new plants from seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings. Both methods have low rates of success. Trees grown from seed may take ten years to flower.

Scale insects and capsid bugs may attack the tree. It may get coral spot or grey mould. Fungi may cause leaf spots. Phytophthora, honey fungus and disease from viruses may also occur. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards. This does not prove the plant is safe. It reports that people can eat the fruit. Some people use the bitter bark in place of cinnamon. The same source lists past uses of plant parts as medicine. These include bark for fever and leaves for colic. These records show past use. They do not prove that such treatments are safe or work.