Aquilaria sinensisChinese Incense Tree

Aquilaria sinensis, the Chinese Incense Tree, is an evergreen forest tree of southern China and northern Vietnam, upright when young and broadening into an open, layered crown with age. Its glossy elliptic leaves and clusters of small, sweetly fragrant white flowers are pleasant enough on their own account, but the species is best known as the botanical source of agarwood.

That cultural weight, particularly across the Arabian Peninsula, makes it a considered choice for heritage gardens, museum grounds and cultural landscapes rather than a general amenity tree.

Specifications

• Height5 to 15 metres
• Width3 to 6 metres
• Native toSouthern China, including Guangdong and Hainan, and northern Vietnam
• FoliageGlossy, elliptic, alternately arranged leaves with fine drawn-out tips; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, well-drained, humus-rich soils; dislikes compacted or waterlogged ground
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate; keep evenly moist through establishment
• ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersClusters of small, fragrant white to yellow-green flowers in late spring and early summer
• UsesCultural and heritage landscapes, shaded park planting and evergreen screening in humid climates
• SpacingPlant 4 to 6 metres apart for grouped planting or 6 to 8 metres as individual specimens
• Low MaintenanceRequires light formative pruning only; remove crossing branches while the tree is young
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound in cultivation, though defoliating caterpillars occur within its native range
• Cultural SignificanceThe species is the botanical source of agarwood, long valued across Asia and the Arabian Peninsula

The Chinese Incense Tree is an evergreen with real cultural depth, suited to landscapes where the meaning of a planting matters as much as its form.