A key ingredient in the famed French perfume channel No 5, Ylang Ylang is a warm-climate flowering tree.
The flowers have long, slender, streamer-like petals and smell like a cross between tropical fruit and jasmine.
The curious flowers change color as they age.
The blooms start life colored yellowy green but gradually darken to orange.
Ylang ylang is one of the floral scents used to create the famous Chanel No 5 perfume.
It was combined with jasmine and rose.
The scent is at its most intense at night and the flowers are pollinated by night-flying insects such asmoths.
Its found throughout the tropics, but the tree is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
This is a plant thatreally needs a warm tropical climate for growth.
It doesnt like temperatures below 15C (although trees can cope with occasional lower temperatures).
Fully grown it reaches 10m or more but it can be grown in a large pot for several years.
Its a better choice for growing longer term in a container or small space.
As well as a perfume ingredient and aromatherapy oil, its valued for its antiseptic properties.
The flowers are used as a herbal remedy for malaria and fever.
The flowers are also considered to be an aphrodisiac.
The leaves have healing properties, too.
