Ylang Ylang - Cananga odorata

Description and Uses

Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) is a tropical tree from South East Asia. It is mainly grown for its oil crops (long shelflife), but also Other uses include; cosmetics, fuel, oil, ornamental and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 2 - 5 years. The first yield will be 6 kg flowers/tree/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 10 kg flowers/tree/year. The flower is edible. Medical uses include; Array The flower contains Caryophyllene (3.1%/oil - 10.7%/oil). There is ylang ylang oil extracted by steam distillation from the tree`s fresh leaf yielding 1 - 2% oil. The tree`s wood is called ylang ylang firewood and has a density of 280 - 300 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 4200 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 14 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Cananga odorata has a lifespan of 60 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 38 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Cananga odorata has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungus. (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by moths. Cananga odorata is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Cananga odorata thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1800 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 2°C and optimally between 20 - 27°C. The optimal rainfall is 2650 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 650 - 4000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

has no pests and there are no significant diseases diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are orthodox and can be stored for 9 months. There are approximative 11000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.

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