Michelia trees are best known for the incredible fragrance of their flowers. They produce many flowers and do so for most of the year. The scent can be enjoyed up close or even from a distance they are so powerful. The fragrance is so delectable that it is used in the perfume 'Joy'.
How to care for Michelia Alba
Light. Needs full sun.
Water. Give moderate, regular water. It does not tolerate overwatering, so plant it where water drains away.
Soil and feeding. It prefers sandy, well-drained, acidic soil, about pH 5.6 to 6.5. In South Florida's alkaline soil, keep it away from concrete and use a Soil Acidifier or an Acid Loving Plants Fertilizer.
Size. Usually grows to about 20 ft in a garden. It is a fast-growing evergreen, and in ideal tropical conditions it can eventually reach 100 ft.
Good to know. The white to cream flowers are about 2 inches across and are most fragrant after dark. They keep their scent after picking. The tree is a host plant for jay butterflies in Asia, and it has smooth silver-gray bark.
Sources: NParks Flora & Fauna Web: Magnolia × alba (White Champaca)
