Magnolia champaca (Champaca, Champak)
Botanical Information
| Family | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus | Magnolia |
| Species | champaca |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Southeast to south Asia, and southern China. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Bark used as febrifuge. Flowers used to treat leprosy. Leaves used to treat against colic. Seeds used to treat chapped skin. Also used as food and essential oils. The tree is harvested for timber to the point that it is becoming rare in the wild. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10a - 11b |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold seasons protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -1.1 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 30 - 50 |
| Height | Up to 35 m |
| Growth | Slow |
| Flowering Period | April, May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Narrow, regular crown. |
| Landscape | Often planted for its beautiful, fragrant flowers. |
| Propagation | By cuttings and seed. |
| Cultivation | Best grown in full sun to partial shade with well drained soil. |
| Notable Specimens | Sakunothayan Botanic Garden, Wang Tong, Phitsanulok, Thailand |
| Habitat | Primarily lowland to montane rain forest. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Pale grey or brown, smooth with the inner bark pale cream but quickly oxidizing to a dark ochre when cut. The wood is slightly resinous. |
| Leaf Description | The leaf is 10-20 x 4-9 cm. Narrowly ovate with pointed to tapering apices. Immature or young leaves are silky while mature leaves are smooth with few scattered hairs, especially abaxial on veins. The petiole is 2-4 cm in length while the stipule scar is usually half this length. |
| Flower Description | Fragrant flowers with 8-12 narrow sepals/petals, blooms are 4-5 cm in diameter and are bright yellow to orange, and held solitary in leaf axils. |
| Fruit Description | The fruit is 1.5-2 cm in size and is pale brown often with large cream coloured spots. The fruit are often held in 2-5 loose clusters. Seeds are dark brown, enclosed in a thin pink pulp and hang on slender white strings when ripe. Fruiting occurs September through October. |
| Colour Description | Flowers are cream to yellow-orange. |
Photographs
Magnolia champaca, Form
Magnolia champaca, Leaf
Magnolia champaca, Seedling