Magnolia champaca, commonly called yellow jade orchid tree, is a large evergreen tree, native to the consisting of South Asia, Southeast Asia and some parts of China. It is best known for its strongly fragrant yellow or white flowers. It is, however, primarily cultivated for its timber, and is also used in urban landscaping. Its aril-covered seeds are highly attractive to birds.

Common names in other languages include champaca, champak; Sonchaaphaa in the Marathi language, Chenbakam/Chenpakam in Tamil; Chenbagam in Malayalam; shornochampa (golden champa)in Bengali, champa, cempaka, sampenga and sampangi in Telugu; Sampige in Kannada, Cempaka in Malay. All other names above apply to Plumeria varieties as well, with the exception of Sonchaaphaa, which is used exclusively for this particular sub variety in Western India.

Magnolia Champaca Flower Water is the aqueous solution of the steam distillates obtained from the flowers of the Magnolia. Magnolias are sought after all over the world primary for their flowers, which are either spectacularly beautiful, fabulously fragrant, and sometimes both.

The flowers are produced during summer and autumn and are borne on short stalks in the leaf forks. Once the petals are shed, the central stalk of the flower elongates and bears several developing fruit along it. Each of these fruit is egg-shaped (10-25mm long) and covered with tiny whitish pustules. When mature, each of these fruit splits open to reveal 2-4 reddish-orange colored seeds.

A tree that can reach 30 - 50m in height when growing in the canopy of tropical forests in its native range However, it usually only grows as small to medium-sized tree (about 10m tall) when present in cultivation in cooler regions.

This plant is grouped into a genus of about 45 Asian trees and shrubs that are closely related to the genus Magnolia. It was named after the Italian botanist Peter A. Michel, 1679-1797. This species is native to Himalayan regions of northern India and southern China. There it is commonly called “fragrant” champaca its scented flowers are legendary and harvested for the perfume industry.

Benefit & Uses: The flowers are used in Southeast Asia for several purposes. Especially in India, they are primarily used for worship at temples whether at home or out and more generally worn in hair by girls and women as a means of beauty ornament as well as a natural perfume. Flowers are used to be floated in bowls of water to scent the room, as a fragrant decoration for bridal beds, and for garlands.

"Magnolia champaca however is more rare and has a strong perfume, and is not that commonly or plentifully used - for example in hair it is worn singly or as a small corsage but rarely as a whole garland, and for bridal beds it is most often jasmine and roses while for bowls of water to be placed around rooms usually other, more colorful for visual decoration and less strongly perfumed flowers are used."

The flowers of Magnolia champaca are of particular note, ranging from cream to a yellow-orange color. Given their reputedly beautiful (and strong) scent, they are traditionally used by women as a hair or chest decoration, floated in bowls of water to scent rooms, added (singly) to garlands, and incorporated (singly) as a decoration for bridal beds. These flowers are also known for their use in one of the top-selling perfumes in the world. 

This species reproduces by seed, which are covered in a brightly colored aril that is highly attractive to fruit-eating birds. Hence, the seeds are probably dispersed into bush land after being consumed by birds and other animals.

Flowers are used in the preparation of perfumes & hair oils. The Indian forest tribal’s consider the various parts of the golden champa useful for a wide range of illnesses, including ulcers, dysentery, bronchitis, heavy menstrual flow, childbirth fevers.

 

As an herbal remedy the blossoms have been used to treat urinary tract infections, moisten dry, red eyes, emollient, febrifuge, and anti- anxiety. The essential oil may be used as an aphrodisiac, for sacred ceremonies, in emotional aromatherapy it is used to increase confidence and enhance well-being.