Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang)

I bought my Cananga odorata in March of 2015 as a 6" tall tree from a garden center halfway between Orlando & Daytona Beach. I paid a few hundred (well-worth) dollars for it; established in a 15-gallon pot which had been topped off the year before so it could fit through the doors of their greenhouse for the winter. After that top growth was cut off, new growth started growing back in as two new growths. I planted it in the center of an elevated garden which we built specifically for the tree to be the centerpiece, and to have excellent drainage to set the tree up for strong, vigorous growth. I used compost mixed with garden soil and peat moss to further help with drainage; before topping it off with a couple inches of Cypress mulch around the area where the drip line would quickly grow to. It grew just about 2 feet taller that first year, and flowered only two or three small clusters, but still flowered nonetheless. Luckily it was a warm winter which helped the root system continue to grow; but it did shed nearly half its leaves in March. I put another 2" layer of fresh compost on top of the mulch from the previous year & a 2" layer of Cypress mulch over that... keeping it away from the trunk, same as the year before. 2016 was the year this tree took off. New leaves & entire new branches grew back in so fast, with flower clusters at the same time which smelled just amazing; muskier at night & sweeter in the morning. It grew twice as wide and from 8 feet tall to 12 feet tall. It continued to grow through most of the winter; only the last week of January & first week of February were cold down to about 40° - 42° F on the coldest of cold nights. It had flowered nearly all summer last year (2017) and even produced a few seedlings below the tree. By the end of August, the stronger of the two growths (the result of it being topped off before I bought it) was 18 feet tall. The smaller growth grew eastward then upward as it was reaching for more sun. Then came Hurricane Irma on September 10th. The wind was blowing westward, & I was watching as that smaller branch broke off & flew across the street four houses down. It was about 1/3 the growth of the tree. The tree itself was still standing, and the tattered new growth actually helped the branches thicken up. All was good until that first bitterly cold week of January, when I dug up the seedlings just in case the worst happened. After all... the University of Florida states that Cananga odorata only grows from USDA zone 11a & up. That night of January 24th, 2018, the weather forecast took us completely by surprise and dropped below freezing to 31°F for about 5 hours. Two days later on the 26th, there were hardly any green leaves left on the tree. Leaves we're all nearly black in color. One week later, I thought the tree had died. Fast forward to the third week of February, when I noticed specks of green emerging from the trunk. Now, as of the first couple days of July, the top half of the tree is covered in very dense growth from 2 to 3 feet away from the trunk. Flowers are starting to appear too. I lost about the top three feet from the freeze, but new growth has already grown one foot taller.

This proves that Cananga odorata can ABSOLUTELY grow in South FL using the point
at which Coconut Palms are growing on their own as a rough guide. I wouldn't recommend anyone else in Central Florida grow this magnificent tree outside year-round unless you know exactly how to plant a tender-tropical well enough to remain a happy, healthy tree that can take that kind of a hit & come back so well. I wish I could post before, during & after pictures of the tree on here.

Aside from my own tree, there's one growing in the ground at Harry Leu Gardens in downtown Orlando for anyone in Central Florida to go see; but I don't know how well it flowers considering it seems to only get dappled sunlight all day.

One last thing for anyone pondering whether or not you can grow these trees outside of a greenhouse in a warm/hot area of the country with low humidity... please don't waste your money as there's no chance it will grow.

I grew this tree from a seed and it's now about 10ft tall and blooms constantly. All written info states that the roots are not invasive, however the tree roots have pushed up my patio pavers and are visible. Also there cracks in my outdoor cement patio which I believe is being caused by the roots spreading underneath the patio. The flowers do smell amazing

The sweet fruity smell of the flowers makes them very attractive to our dogs, who gobble them up whenever they fall.

Here in South Florida this tree thrives in a sheltered and moderately sunny location.Likes moist soil and rain. Hurricane Wilma chopped off my 8ft tree to 4 ft height and I thought it will die.I left it in place and it grew back to same height. Now it is just leaning a little on one side. It is close to the sidewalk and people stop to inhale the smell. Birds like to sit in the branches and feast on the clusters of black berry like sweet fruit.The tree stem is almost white and looks pretty among light green leaves.Tree looks like a tropical Christmas tree with different kind of leaves.It starts flowering when around 4 year old and is always loaded with flowers. Does not like dry weather or high heat,or bery high wind-leaves start getting yellow and brown. I was able to grow couple of more from the seeds but not all seeds germinate and it took a long time.Ones in pots did not germinate but the ones I buried lightly under original tree grew into small plants. Grass does not grow well under its branches. It let the droopy branches touch ground because they are loaded with wonderfully fragarant flowers that I like to pick and bring inside.Flowers smell like a chanel perfume.The garden also smells great ,specially in morning and evenings.

HI. I would like to know if this would grow in NYC. I have a small patio and it says it's hardy and an evergreen. Maybe there are some varieties that do? which ones?

This is the sweetest smelling flower anyone can find. In the Philippines it's name is Ilang ilang
or Ylang ylang . It is grown as a garden tree in front of houses and they flower at dusk ,suffusing an entire block with their wonderful heady scents. They are used as neclaces like lei's by young ladies and flower necklaces as offerings for saints in Churches.

Can anybody please advise if this plan will survive in Phoenix Arizona? I love this plan and used to have when I was in Tropical area of India..

Thanks

I would wish to know if this plant would survive in Oregon. My mother grew up around this wonderfull plant in the kingdom of tonga and it would be a perfect gift, but i dont know wether it would survive.

If anyone knew anything about this please post a message. I would really like to know.

Thanks much

I absolutely love this plant.I have bought about 6 of these plants so far and they have all died.The leaves start falling off and slowly die. I have tried limiting water spraying everyday,placing a humidifier by it.I have tried placing it indoors and outdoors but no success.My first batch did very well for about a year then suddenly died.Any advice or help!Thnaks N.