Ylang-Ylang Growers’ Guide

Here’s a comprehensive technical overview and growers’ guide for Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata), aligned with your existing agroforestry, SC-CO₂ extraction, and perfumery operations:

1 — Overview

  • Scientific name: Cananga odorata
  • Family: Annonaceae
  • Origin: Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia)
  • Uses: Essential oil (perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics), flowers (ornamental), fragrance extracts
  • Economic Importance: Premium essential oil crop; high-value export commodity; key ingredient in luxury perfumes

2 — Climate & Soil Requirements

ParameterRequirement
Temperature22–32°C optimal
Rainfall1,500–2,500 mm/year
Soil typeDeep, well-drained sandy loam; pH 5.5–6.5
LightFull sun to partial shade
AltitudeSea level to 500 m

Note: Ylang-Ylang thrives in humid tropical climates and benefits from consistent moisture.

3 — Propagation

3.1 Seed Propagation

  • Collect ripe fruits (greenish-yellow pods)
  • Extract seeds, wash pulp
  • Germination: 3–8 weeks in moist sand or nursery beds
  • Success rate: ~50–70%

3.2 Vegetative Propagation

  • Air layering: Highly successful; main method for uniform clones
  • Stem cuttings: Rooting aided by auxins (IBA/NAA)
  • Tissue culture / organogenesis: Potential for elite clones (COPI R&D), faster uniformity and chemotype selection

4 — Nursery Management

  • Medium: Sand:loam:compost (1:1:1)
  • Containers: Polybags 1–3 L
  • Watering: Frequent, consistent moisture; avoid waterlogging
  • Fertilization: Balanced NPK + organic matter
  • Pests: Aphids, mealybugs; monitor and control early

5 — Field Planting

  • Spacing: 3–4 m × 3–4 m (625–1,100 trees/ha)
  • Row orientation: North-South for optimal sunlight exposure
  • Agroforestry:
    • Understory for Nutmeg, Agarwood, Elemi
    • Can also serve as mid-layer in Sandalwood/Agroforestry setups

6 — Care & Maintenance

  • Irrigation: Regular during dry season; drip or sprinkler preferred
  • Fertilization: Monthly for first year; quarterly after establishment
  • Pruning: Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches; maintain open canopy for flower production
  • Weeding & Mulching: Manual weeding; organic mulch to retain moisture and reduce weeds

7 — Flowering & Harvest

  • Time to first flowering: 3–4 years (seedlings), 2–3 years (air-layered or tissue-cultured clones)
  • Flower yield: 1–2 kg of fresh flowers per mature tree per harvest season
  • Harvesting:
    • Collect flowers early morning for maximum oil content
    • Distill immediately or store briefly in shaded, ventilated areas

8 — Essential Oil Extraction

  • Method: Steam distillation (traditional) or SC-CO₂ extraction (premium fractionation)
  • Yield: 1–3% of fresh flower weight
  • Grades: Extra, I, II, III (based on fragrance quality and fractionation)
  • SC-CO₂ advantage: Preserves top notes, produces high-grade fractionated oils for perfumery (ANOC / Ethereal Scent)

9 — Pest & Disease Management

  • Common Pests: Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects
  • Diseases: Leaf spot (Colletotrichum), root rot
  • Management:
    • IPM with biological controls (ladybugs, neem oil)
    • Proper drainage and spacing to prevent fungal infections

10 — Yield & Productivity

ParameterYield per ha
Mature trees625–1,100
Flower yield1–2 kg/tree per harvest season
Oil yield1–3% fresh weight
ROI3–5 years (flowering and oil production)

11 — Agroforestry Integration

  • Understory / mid-layer: Compatible with Nutmeg, Agarwood, Elemi
  • Benefits:
    • Biodiversity enhancement
    • Continuous cash flow (flower harvest every 2–3 months)
    • Provides early-medium-term income while long-term trees (Agarwood, Sandalwood) mature

12 — Sustainability & Certification

  • Organic cultivation: Avoid synthetic pesticides; use compost and biofertilizers (COBI products)
  • Traceable flower-to-oil system for premium perfumery
  • Potential for Fair Trade / eco-label certifications

13 — Recommended Resources

  • COPI tissue culture protocols for elite Ylang-Ylang clones
  • CESI SC-CO₂ extraction manuals for fractionated perfumery-grade oils
  • Integrated agroforestry design manuals for tropical multi-strata systems

This Ylang-Ylang Growers’ Guide ensures:

  • Farmer-friendly propagation & nursery management
  • Integration into Nutmeg + Agarwood + Sandalwood agroforestry systems
  • Optimized SC-CO₂ oil production for high-value perfumery

I can also create a “Ylang-Ylang + Agarwood + Sandalwood + Nutmeg” integrated agroforestry visual model with harvest timeline, flower and resin/oil production, and projected revenue — fully ready for investor presentation or operational planning.

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