Aglaia odorataChinese Perfume Plant

The Aglaia odorata, or Chinese Perfume Plant, is a dense evergreen shrub from southern China and Southeast Asia, grown far more for its scent than for the size of its flowers. The blooms are little more than golden specks scattered through the glossy pinnate foliage, but the perfume they carry is strong enough to cross a courtyard.

It clips well and holds a tight face, which makes it a natural choice for hedges alongside seating, entrances and walkways where the scent is worth having close at hand.

Specifications

• Height2 to 5 metres, occasionally reaching 6 metres as a small tree
• Width1.5 to 3 metres
• Native toSouthern China and mainland Southeast Asia
• FoliagePinnate leaves with glossy dark green leaflets on winged stalks; evergreen
• Growth rateSlow to moderate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers fertile, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate; regular through the warm months, reduced in cool weather
• ClimateThrives in tropical and subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersTiny golden-yellow flowers in short panicles, intensely fragrant, produced through the warm months
• UsesIdeal for fragrant hedging, courtyard and entrance planting, and clipped border work
• SpacingPlant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a hedge or 2 metres apart as specimens
• Low MaintenanceResponds well to clipping; trim after each flush to hold the shape
• Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free with basic care
• VersatilitySuits formal hedges, informal borders and large containers equally
• Cultural SignificanceThe flowers have long been used across Asia to scent tea and clothing

The Chinese Perfume Plant earns its place through fragrance and a naturally neat habit rather than floral display.