Specialty Gardening: Ylang Ylang and Michelia question, 0 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Dott, I forgot to mention that Michelia champaca is usually grown from seed and doesn't flower until it reaches 4-5 years old and/or 10-12 feet tall. I had two, but I gave one away. My first one flowered when it was around eight feet tall. You are right that the Michelia x alba blooms when much smaller because it is created by either grafting or air-layering a flowering tree as Mikluha said. The two flowers have very different fragrances in my opinion. The yellow Michelia champaca has a very strong, spicy incense-type smell and is enjoyed best from a few feet away from the flower. I made the mistake of sticking my nose right into the flower and was repelled, and it took a while before I could appreciate the fragrance again. It is not sweet, but it is interesting and different. The Michelia x alba, on the other hand, is very sweet and smells wonderful, and you can put your nose in that one comfortably.