Champa (Magnolia champaca), formerly Michelia champaca, is a tall evergreen tree prized across India for its richly fragrant golden-orange flowers. The glossy lance-shaped leaves form a dense, upright crown, while the blooms appear chiefly through the warmer and monsoon months, perfuming the air at dawn and dusk. Sacred in Hindu and Buddhist tradition, the flowers are used in garlands, temple offerings and to make the famous champaca attar. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it suits tropical and subtropical gardens, growing into a handsome specimen or shade tree in deep, moist, well-drained soil.
Specifications
| Family |
Magnoliaceae |
| Native region |
Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia |
| Mature height |
10-20 m |
| Mature spread |
5-8 m |
| Growth rate |
Moderate |
| Foliage |
Glossy evergreen lance-shaped leaves |
| Flower colour |
Golden-orange to yellow |
| Flower season |
Spring to monsoon |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and subtropical |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun to partial shade |
| Watering |
Regular; keep soil evenly moist, avoid waterlogging |
| Soil / mix |
Deep, rich, well-drained loamy soil |
| Temperature |
18-38 C; protect from frost |
| Humidity |
Moderate to high |
| Fertilizer |
Organic manure plus balanced NPK during growth |
| Pruning |
Light pruning to shape after flowering |
| Repotting |
Best in ground; repot young pot plants yearly |
| Propagation |
Seeds, air-layering and grafting |
| Pests & problems |
Watch for scale, aphids and leaf-eating caterpillars |
| Toxicity / safety |
Generally non-toxic; flowers used traditionally |
| Difficulty |
Easy to moderate |
Uses
Grown for its intensely fragrant flowers used in garlands, worship, perfumery and attar. Also planted as an ornamental shade and avenue tree.
Growing tips
Plant in a sheltered, sunny spot with rich, moist soil and mulch the base. In North India protect young trees from winter frost and dry winds for best flowering.