Michelia champaca

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Magnolia champaca, Yellow Jade Orchid Tree, Champaka Tree

Michelia champaca (aka Magnolia champaca), commonly known as Champak or Yellow Jade Orchid Tree, is grown for its highly fragrant flowers which permeates through the air. The flowers are yellow-cream and held amidst lush, green foliage as it grows to 30 m tall and 10 m wide. Michelia champaca is commonly grown as a specimen in tropical and sub-tropical gardens, planted specifically for its fragrant flowers, or included around outdoor living areas where space permits.

Michelia champaca is currently unavailable, but we do have other other amazing species and varieties of Michelia available.

explore them here

Why? Our plants are subject to seasonality and high-demand. Please contact us if you would like to know when it becomes available again.

Suited to regions:	Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type:	Trees
Height:	30.00 m
Spread:	10.00 m
Flowering time:	Spring
Tolerances:
Garden uses:	Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen
Garden styles:	Japanese, Tropical
Easy to grow?	Yes
Maintenance requirements	Low
Growth rate	Medium
Also known as	Magnolia champaca, Yellow Jade Orchid Tree, Champaka Tree

How to grow a Michelia champaca hedge

The Michelia champaca hedge spacing is generally 50 cm between the plants. If you want the hedge to fill in faster, you can shorten the spacing to 40 cm. However, going wider than 50 cm will have two effects. The first is that the gap between the plants at the base will be harder to fill in and this can cause frustration. The second is that the plants will tend to grow wider rather than upward. At a closer spacing the plants compete for light, and in doing so, they push each other upwards. Therefore, The Plant Company recommends a 40-50 cm spacing to achieve an amazing hedge. If large grade plants (25L pot size or more) are purchased, the spacing can be increased to 1 m apart as the plants have been manicured to already be bushy. Start trimming the sides of the hedge once active growth starts to achieve a denser hedge.

Michelia champaca plants for sale

The Plant Company has the best Michelia champaca plants for sale in NZ. Our production nursery specialises in growing amazing plants and our logistics team pack them carefully for our customers. The pricing is competitive and the quality is exceptional. Let us look after your plant and tree needs and impress you with both our products and service!

Where can I buy a Michelia champaca standard?

Standard Michelia champaca plants are a speciality for some of our wholesalers and they can come in different standard heights. If you can’t find the size or standard height you are after in our pricing table above, just email in to shop@theplantcompany.co.nz and the team will endeavour to fill your needs with high-quality plants.

When is the best time for planting Michelia champaca?

The best time to plant Michelia champaca is during the dormant season, which spans from autumn to spring. However, the optimal timing within this period is spring, as the warming soil encourages better root establishment. This allows the young tree to settle in well before the heat of summer arrives. You can still plant in summer provided careful attention is paid to watering.

Michelia champaca care

Michelia champaca is a beautiful evergreen tree or large shrub that requires specific care to thrive. It flourishes in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates like parts of New Zealand during summer, some midday shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. It prefers moist but well-drained soil that is fertile and rich in humus. While it can tolerate neutral to slightly alkaline soils, it ideally prefers slightly acidic conditions. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot and this cannot be emphasised enough. While it can handle light frosts, young plants should be protected in colder regions. In areas with cold, drying winds, shelter is recommended. Feed it with tree fertiliser in early spring before new growth begins. If shaping is needed, it's best to prune after flowering to avoid removing the current season's blooms, as it flowers from late winter to early summer. Generally, this variety is relatively pest and disease-free. However, keep an eye out for scale insects and treat with an insecticide if levels are high.