Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang)

Cananga odorata, Unona odoratissima, Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree, Chanel #5 Tree, Ilang-ilang, Maramar, Pka Kdang Gnea

Botanical names: Cananga odorata, Unona odoratissima

Common names: Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree, Chanel #5 Tree, Ilang-ilang, Maramar, Pka Kdang Gnea

Origin: Tropical Asia to Australia

This is an evergreen tree, around 30 to 45Ft in height, with gracefully drooping branches. It is often grown in the gardens of Southeast Asia because of its yellow-green, highly fragrant, drooping flowers, which appear almost continuously on the leafy twigs. Though not striking from a distance, green when they first appear and becoming yellow with maturity, these are very fragrant and are used as offering or to scent a room. Fragrance embraces the yard for many yards around. The flower itself though not standing out among green leaves from the distance, still looks very stylish and reminds an elegant accessory for a luxurious brand name evening dress in addition to it's wonderful fragrance. No wonder the flowers are used for production of Chanel#5 perfume. There is also a smaller form of this plant - Cananga odorata var. fruticosa that grows into a dense shrub about 9ft in height. Cananga does best in full sun but will grow in light shade. Propagation is by seeds, more difficult by cuttings. Very fast growing.

See article about Cananga.