Aglaia odorata Lour: The Fragrant Four Seasons Milan Plant

The Aglaia odorata Lour, also known as the Four Seasons Milan, or Broken Rice Milan, belongs to the Meliaceae family, Aglaia genus. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree with many small branches.

The young branches at the top have star-shaped rust-colored scales, which later fall off. The plant has odd-pinnate compound leaves that are alternate, 5-12(-16) cm long with a narrowly winged axis and petiole.

It has 3-5 pairs of opposite leaves. The flowers are yellow, about 2mm in diameter, with slender stamen stalks 1.5-3mm long, combined into a tube. The flowering period is from May to December, or all year round, with the fruiting period from July to the following March.

Native to southern Asia, it is widely planted in tropical areas around the world. The Chinese Perfume Plant is a beloved ornamental plant, with a pleasant fragrance when in bloom.

The potted plant can be displayed in the living room, study, or porch, providing a fresh and elegant atmosphere that soothes the mind and body. In southern courtyards, it makes an excellent landscape tree.

I. Morphological features

This evergreen shrub or small tree has many small branches. The young branches at the top have star-shaped rust-colored scales that later fall off. The plant has odd-pinnate compound leaves that are alternate, 5-12(-16) cm long.

The leaf axis and petiole are narrowly winged, with 3-5 pairs of opposite leaves, thick paper-like, 2-7(-11) cm long, 1-3.5(-5) cm wide, ovate to oblong, with the largest leaf at the top, and the ones at the bottom significantly smaller.

The leaves are blunt at the tip, wedge-shaped at the base, hairless on both sides, entire, with prominent leaf veins. It has about 8 very thin side veins on each side, and the net veins are slightly convex on both sides.

The axillary corymbose inflorescences are 5-10 cm long, slightly sparse and hairless. The flowers are yellow, about 2 mm in diameter, and fragrant. The calyx is divided into 5 segments, with round lobes.

The corolla has 5 petals, oblong or nearly round, 1.5-2 mm long, rounded and truncated at the top, longer than the calyx. There are 5 anthers, ovate, and enclosed.

The stamen stalks are slender, 1.5-3mm long, and combined into a tube, shorter than the petals. The pistil has an ovate ovary, densely covered with yellow coarse hair.

The berries are ovate or spherical, 10-12 mm long, initially covered with scattered star-shaped scales, which later fall off; the seeds have a fleshy pseudocarp.

The pedicels of the bisexual flowers are slightly short and thick, and the seeds have a fleshy pseudocarp. The flowering period is from May to December, or all year round, with the fruiting period from July to the following March.

II. Growth Environment

This plant thrives in warm, humid conditions with plenty of sunlight. It cannot endure the cold, but can slightly tolerate shade. It adapts to a wide range of soils, but it grows best in deep, loose, fertile, mildly acidic sandy soil.

It should not be exposed to temperatures below 10°C during winter. It is commonly found in sparse forests or shrublands in low-altitude mountains.

The Michelia plant prefers warmth, sunlight, and fertile conditions. Its ideal growth temperature is between 20°C and 25°C. Under normal conditions, sufficient sunlight and higher temperatures (around 30°C) will result in flowers with a strong fragrance.

Placing the Michelia in a shaded area during the summer and using a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer can lead to fewer blooms or flowers with a weak scent.

Therefore, during its growth and development, the Michelia should be kept outdoors in a sunny location and treated with a liquid fertilizer rich in phosphorus. Ideally, it should be nourished with bone meal, fish bones, chicken bones, or other fermented fertilizers.

Regular supplementation with phosphorus-rich fertilizers or fermented rice water can help bud formation, resulting in more flowers with a golden color and a fresh aroma.

The Michelia plant grows slowly and has a relatively long lifespan. Even hundred-year-old trees can still bloom.

III. Main Value

The Michelia is a beloved flowering plant, known for its fragrant blossoms. A Michelia pot plant can be displayed in the living room, study, or porch, adding a fresh and elegant touch that soothes the mind and body.

In southern courtyards, the Michelia also serves as a superb landscape tree.

IV. Growth and Reproduction

Propagation is done through cuttings, layering, or seeding.

Layering: Mainly through aerial layering, select one-year-old lignified branches during the rainy season.

At the base, 20 centimeters from the cut, strip the bark in a ring shape about 1 centimeter wide. Apply moss or peat to the stripped area and tightly bind it with a film. Roots should form in 2-3 months.

Cuttings: In June-August, cut tender tips about 10 centimeters long and insert them into peat. Roots should start to form after 2 months.

V. Pest and Disease Control

• Aphids can be controlled by spraying the plants with tobacco or chili water. A spray of 800 times diluted aphicide can also be effective. If the infestation is small, it can be manually brushed off with a small brush. Other control methods can refer to those used for roses.
• Beetles can be controlled by spraying the plants with a 1500 times diluted insecticide. If the infestation is small, it can be manually brushed off. Other control methods can refer to those used for large flowered African violets.
• Red spiders can be controlled by spraying a mixture of 1000 times diluted 10% fenbutatin oxide (like Guoguang Red Killer) and 3000 times diluted 5.7% abamectin (like Guoguang Leke). It is recommended to use the spray twice, with a 7-10 day interval.
• Sooty mold disease thrives in high temperature and high humidity environments with poor ventilation. Therefore, when cultivating, please pay attention to controlling temperature, humidity, and ventilation.