Fagraea Ceylanica: A Comprehensive Guide to Cultivation and Care

The Fagraea ceylanica, also known as the Ceylon Ironwood or Giant Indian Privet, is an evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the Gentianaceae family. It features a grey bark and sturdy, cylindrical branches.

This glabrous plant has somewhat succulent leaves that are acuminate at the apex and cuneate to broadly cuneate at the base. The leaves are a deep green with a flattened midrib and slightly raised veins on the underside.

The leaf stalks have axillary scales formed by stipules. Flowers are solitary or clustered in terminal, dichasial cymes; the corolla is funnel-shaped and white, emitting a fragrant scent. The anthers are oblong to ovate in shape.

The ovary is elliptical or ovate, leading to a slender style and a stigma that is obconical or slightly peltate. The fruit is an ovoid or nearly spherical berry, light green with a persistent calyx at the base, and features an apiculate apex.

Blooming occurs from April to August with the fruiting period extending from July to the following March. With its large, aromatic flowers and evergreen, lush foliage, the Fagraea ceylanica is an excellent choice for gardens and indoor ornamental displays.

It has a strong capacity to resist pollution and is ideal for green belts along roads, urban corridors, forest edges, and as a distinctive landscape feature.

I. Morphological Characteristics

The tree can grow up to 15 meters tall and occasionally presents as a climbing shrub when supported by other trees. Its bark is gray in color. The branches are thick and cylindrical, with older ones showing prominent leaf and stipule scars. The entire plant is glabrous.

The leaves are somewhat succulent, becoming coriaceous or subcoriaceous when dry. They exhibit various shapes: elliptic, ovate, obovate, or oblong, sometimes oblong-lanceolate, measuring 5-25 centimeters in length and 2-10 centimeters in width.

The leaves are deep green, turning greenish-yellow when dry; they have a flattened midrib and slightly raised secondary veins on the underside with 4-8 pairs of lateral veins, though these are not very prominent.

The petioles are 1-5 centimeters long with axillary scales at the base formed by stipules, which are about 1 millimeter in length and 4 millimeters in width, often partially adnate to the petiole.

The flowers are solitary or form terminal dichasial cymes. The peduncles are short and stout, with lanceolate bracts at the base, about 4 millimeters long; the pedicels are sturdy, up to 1 centimeter long, with two broad ovate bracteoles in the upper part.

The calyx is green, fleshy, becoming coriaceous when dry, 1.5-2 centimeters long, with ovate to orbicular lobes about 1 centimeter long and scarious margins. The corolla is funnel-shaped, about 5 centimeters long, membranous yet slightly fleshy, white, and fragrant.

The corolla tube is 3-3.5 centimeters long, dilating at the apex with spreading, obovate lobes, 2.5-3 centimeters long and up to 2 centimeters wide, with raised venation inside at the top.

The stamens are included, with filiform filaments and oblong to ovate anthers, 5-7 millimeters long. The ovary is ellipsoid or ovoid, 5 millimeters long, glabrous, bilocular, with numerous ovules in each locule.

The style is slender, with a stigma that is obconical or slightly peltate.

The berry is ovoid or subglobose, 3-5 centimeters long, 2-4 centimeters in diameter, glossy light green with a persistent calyx at the base and an apiculate apex.

The seeds are ellipsoid to reniform, 3-4 millimeters long, embedded in the fruit pulp. The basic chromosome number is x=11. The flowering period is from April to August, and the fruiting period is from July to the following March.

II. Growth Environment

The plant thrives in dense montane forests and broadleaf forests in limestone areas at altitudes of 500-1800 meters.

It prefers full sun but is tolerant of drought, partial shade, and moderate cold, remaining evergreen and vigorous in the tropical and subtropical climates of South and Southeast Asia. It is adaptable to various soil types, demonstrates strong environmental plasticity, and is relatively easy to cultivate.

III. Distribution Range

Fagraea ceilanica is native to and widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. Its natural range spans China, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This extensive distribution demonstrates the species’ adaptability to various tropical and subtropical climates and ecosystems.

IV. Growth and Propagation

Fagraea ceilanica can be successfully propagated through several methods, including cuttings, seeding, layering, and division. Each technique has specific optimal timing and conditions, allowing cultivators to choose the most suitable method based on their circumstances and resources. Stem cuttings and seed propagation are particularly effective, often resulting in high seedling establishment rates.

Seeding

The optimal period for sowing Fagraea ceilanica seeds is from October to December. This timing aligns with the plant’s natural reproductive cycle and provides ideal conditions for germination.

Seed Collection and Preparation:

• Harvest mature fruits
• Extract seeds carefully
• Choose between immediate sowing or sand storage

Sowing Process:

• Prepare a seedbed with loose, fertile sandy loam
• Sow seeds by scattering or in rows
• Cover seeds with 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 inches) of soil
• Apply mulch (straw or plastic film) for warmth and frost protection

Germination and Seedling Care:

• Seeds sown in late autumn or early winter typically germinate the following spring
• Remove mulch promptly upon germination
• Intensify water and fertilizer management
• Construct shading structures in summer to promote tall, well-formed plants

Cuttings

Stem cutting propagation for Fagraea ceilanica is most successful when performed from late April to October, with optimal results typically achieved during the rainy season (June-July).

Cutting Selection and Preparation:

• Choose healthy branches aged 1-2 years
• Cut segments 12-15 cm (4.7-5.9 inches) long
• Include 2-3 half leaves on each cutting
• Make the bottom cut 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 inches) below a node

Planting and Care:

• Use peat soil, sandy loam, vermiculite, or loamy sand as growing medium (peat soil often yields best results)
• Cover with plastic film to maintain humidity
• Provide shade during sunny periods
• Expect root development within 1-2 months
• Typical survival rate exceeds 80%

Division

Division is best performed in March or April when new growth begins.

Process:

1. Remove clumped plants from pots or ground
2. Gently remove excess soil
3. Use a sharp, sterile knife to separate divisions at weak root junctions
4. Ensure each division has 2-3 stems and healthy roots
5. Replant divisions in ground or pots
6. Alternatively, harvest and replant shoots sprouting from roots near the ground

Layering

Two primary layering methods are employed for Fagraea ceilanica: low layering and high layering.

Low Layering (Southern China):

• Timing: April
• Select healthy 2-3 year old branches near the plant base
• Peel or girdle the selected branch
• Bend and bury the treated section in a pre-dug trench
• Roots typically develop in 40-50 days
• Separate and transplant new plants in July or August

High Layering (Northern China):

• Timing: Late April
• Choose a healthy 2-year-old branch
• Make a 0.5 cm cut below a node
• Peel a ring around the branch (width should be 3 times the branch diameter)
• Wrap the girdled area with plastic film containing moist sphagnum moss or peat
• Leave an opening for irrigation
• Expect root formation within 2-3 months

V. Pest and Disease Management

Diseases

Anthracnose:

• Symptoms: Circular to irregular depressed spots on young branches and leaves; brown edges with gray-white to gray-brown centers; black granules (acervuli) visible
• Control: Alternate spraying every 10 days (3-4 applications) with:
  1. Mixture of 800x diluted 50% carbendazim WP and 800x diluted 25% thiophanate-methyl WP
  2. 500x diluted 25% chlorothalonil WP

Sunscald:

• Symptoms: Gray-white or pale white scorched spots on tender shoots and young leaves, typically during intense summer heat
• Prevention:
  1. Use shade nets
  2. Relocate plants to appropriate locations
  3. Increase watering frequency and volume during hot, dry periods
  4. Consider direct leaf watering if necessary
• Treatment:
  1. Move affected plants to shade immediately
  2. Prune scorched shoots and leaves
  3. Enhance water and fertilizer management for recovery

Pests

Thrips:

• Damage: Attack tender leaves and young buds, causing galls, deformities, and curled leaves
• Symptoms: Adults and juveniles often feed together on leaf undersides, particularly along main veins

Control Measures:

1. Physical: Remove and burn affected plant parts for minor infestations
2. Biological: Introduce predatory insects (e.g., ladybugs, particularly Seven-spotted and Convergent lady beetles)
3. Chemical:
   • Preventive: Spray abamectin (2500x diluted) or imidacloprid (1000x diluted) when new leaves emerge
   • Curative: Apply chosen insecticide every 6-7 days, repeating 3-4 times as needed

VI. Main Value

Horticultural Significance

Fagraea ceilanica is prized for its:

• Large, fragrant flowers
• Evergreen, glossy foliage
• Vigorous growth habit
• Lush, graceful form
• Excellent air-purifying qualities
• Potential to improve indoor air quality and work environments
• Antibacterial properties from volatile oils, potentially aiding relaxation and sleep

Landscaping and Environmental Applications

Fagraea ceilanica is well-suited for:

• Garden focal points
• Indoor foliage displays
• Natural wind barriers when placed near windows
• Urban greening projects due to high pollution resistance
• Roadside plantings (medians, thoroughfares)
• Forest belts
• Landscape nodes and focal areas

Its adaptability and resilience make it a valuable species for both ornamental and functional landscaping in tropical and subtropical regions.