Chinese Perfume Plant (Aglaia odorata): Tiny Flowers, Mighty Fragrance

Chinese perfume plant, also called Chinese rice flower or mock lemon, is a small evergreen shrub or tree native to Southeast Asia. Its inconspicuous yellow flowers emit an intensely sweet, lemony fragrance that can perfume an entire garden, especially in the evening.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Meliaceae (mahogany family)
• Genus: Aglaia
• Species: odorata

Characteristics

Grows 6–15 feet tall with a dense, rounded habit. Leaves are pinnately compound, glossy dark green. Flowers are tiny, yellow, petal-less, borne in panicles, but their fragrance is powerful—sweet, citrusy, and far-reaching. Blooms intermittently year-round in warm climates. Fruit is a small, orange berry.

Culture

Part shade to full sun (best with afternoon shade in hot climates), moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Tropical (USDA zones 10–11); can be grown as a houseplant or overwintered indoors. Regular water and humidity. Prune lightly to shape.

Uses

Fragrance garden, patio container, indoor plant, hedge in tropics. The scent is used in perfumery and tea flavoring.