Hari Champa (Artabotrys hexapetalus), often called the climbing ylang-ylang or Manoranjan, is a vigorous woody scrambling shrub from the custard-apple family (Annonaceae). It is cherished across India for its small, fleshy flowers that open green and mature to yellow, releasing a powerful sweet fragrance reminiscent of ripe jackfruit, banana and pineapple, strongest in the evening.
Naturally a large scandent shrub that climbs with hook-like modified flower stalks, it can be trained on a pergola, fence or strong trellis, or kept as a dense rounded shrub through regular pruning. The glossy, leathery dark-green leaves stay attractive year-round, while flowering peaks during the warm, humid monsoon months.
Tough, sun-loving and well suited to India's tropical and subtropical plains, it is a traditional dooryard and temple plant, often grown near windows and verandahs so the perfume can drift indoors.
Specifications
| Family |
Annonaceae |
| Native region |
Tropical Asia (India, Sri Lanka, China) |
| Mature height |
3-6 m as a trained climber; 2-3 m as a pruned shrub |
| Mature spread |
2-4 m |
| Growth rate |
Moderate to fast |
| Foliage |
Evergreen, glossy leathery dark-green elliptic leaves |
| Flower colour |
Green ageing to yellow |
| Flower season |
Mainly monsoon and warm months (June-September), sporadic in warm spells |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and subtropical (USDA 10-11) |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun to partial shade; best flowering and fragrance in 5-6 hours of direct sun. |
| Watering |
Keep soil evenly moist in growing season; water 2-3 times a week, more in summer. Avoid waterlogging. |
| Soil / mix |
Rich, well-drained loam with organic matter; tolerates most garden soils with good drainage. |
| Temperature |
Thrives at 20-38 C; frost-sensitive, protect below 10 C. |
| Humidity |
Prefers moderate to high humidity; loves the monsoon season. |
| Fertilizer |
Feed monthly in growing season with balanced NPK or compost/vermicompost; a potassium-rich feed boosts flowering. |
| Pruning |
Prune after the main flush to shape, control size and encourage bushy, free-flowering growth; remove dead wood. |
| Repotting |
Repot container plants every 2-3 years into a larger pot with fresh, rich potting mix, ideally before monsoon. |
| Propagation |
By semi-hardwood cuttings, layering, or seed; cuttings and layering are most reliable. |
| Pests & problems |
Generally hardy; watch for mealybugs, scale and aphids. Treat with neem oil or mild insecticidal soap. |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
- Grown for its powerfully fragrant flowers near windows, verandahs and seating areas.
- Trained on pergolas, arches, fences and trellises as an ornamental flowering climber.
- Flowers are used to scent rooms, linen and hair, and in traditional garlands and offerings.
- Kept as a pruned specimen shrub or large container plant on terraces and balconies.
Growing tips
Plant at the start of the monsoon (June-July) so it establishes in warm, humid weather. Provide a strong support early as it becomes woody and heavy with age.
Give it the sunniest spot available for the best bloom and fragrance, and mulch the base to conserve moisture through the dry summer. Feed and prune lightly after the monsoon flush to keep it compact and flowering. In North India, shelter young plants from winter cold and cut back on watering when temperatures drop.
