You mentioned Cananga odorata, which is the scientific name for the ylang-ylang tree, famous for its fragrant flowers used in perfumery and aromatherapy. Here’s a detailed overview covering its botany, cultivation, uses, and potential in agroforestry:
1. Botanical Overview
- Family: Annonaceae
- Common Names: Ylang-ylang, perfume tree, ilang-ilang
- Origin: Tropical Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia)
- Tree Type: Evergreen, medium-sized tree (up to 12–20 m in height)
- Leaves: Large, glossy, lance-shaped leaves (10–25 cm long)
- Flowers: Highly fragrant, yellow-green petals; flowers appear throughout the year
- Fruit: Small, cylindrical, green turning black when mature
2. Climate & Soil Requirements
- Climate: Tropical, humid; prefers 20–35°C; sensitive to frost
- Rainfall: 1500–3000 mm/year; well-distributed
- Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained soils; pH 5.0–7.5
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates light shade when young
3. Propagation
- Seeds: Viable for only a short period; germination takes 3–4 weeks
- Vegetative Methods:
- Air-layering: Common commercial method; high success rate
- Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings in mist house
- Grafting: Less common but used for elite clones
- Spacing: 5–7 m between trees
4. Flowering & Harvesting
- Flowering: Year-round, peak during warm months
- Harvesting: Flowers harvested early morning before full bloom for best essential oil quality
- Post-Harvest Handling: Flowers must be processed immediately for steam distillation
5. Uses
Essential Oil Production
- Ylang-ylang essential oil is distilled from flowers.
- Used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, and sometimes in traditional medicine.
- Essential oil grades: Extra, I, II, III, and Concrete depending on distillation time.
Agroforestry & Landscape
- Shade tree, companion crop with high-value trees like Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.), Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), and Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Enhances biodiversity and soil cover
- Attracts pollinators (moths, bees)
Traditional Medicine
- Flowers, bark, and leaves used for calming, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic purposes in traditional herbal medicine
6. Challenges
- Sensitive to waterlogging and strong winds
- Pest issues: aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects
- Diseases: leaf spot, root rot
7. Agroforestry Integration Example
- Companion Crops: Agarwood, Sandalwood, Nutmeg
- Benefits:
- Shade and microclimate regulation for young seedlings
- Diversified income streams: essential oil + timber + agroforestry products
- Harvest Timing: Flower harvest starts ~4–5 years after planting; tree can live 50+ years
If you want, I can create a full technical grower’s guide for Cananga odorata in the Philippines, including propagation protocols, plantation layout, yield projections, and integration with Agarwood in agroforestry systems. This would be similar to the guides I’ve prepared for Sandalwood, Nutmeg, and Manila Elemi.
Do you want me to prepare that?