Heaven-Scent High-Fliers

With sunshine 365 days in a year and an abundance of rainfall, is it any wonder Malaysia is graced with a fascinating diversity of flora?

Plants shape the design and set the mood of the garden with their arresting array of colors, forms and habits, leaf types and textures. But it is fragrance that adds excitement by perking up the sense of smell as well as sight. The following are just a few whose sweet aroma perfumes our Malaysian gardens.

Cananga odorata Better known as ylang ylang in the West, it is native to Southern India, the Malay Archipelago and the Pacific Islands. Catapulted to international fame in 1923 by the iconic Coco Chanel, it has been feted as the inspiration behind the Chanel No.5. Its blossoms have since become a highly sough-after ingredient in many perfumes.

Gardenia carinata Originating from the northern region of Malaysia, it is better know as the cempaka hutan among locals. The flowers can change from ivory to golden-yellow. When not in bloom, they are mottled in appearance. The tree is valued for its strong fragrance and vigorous growth but can be trained into a small tree. Organic and fertile soil acidic in PH is a must.

Muraya paniculata Variously called as orange jasmine, mock orange or China-box, this evergreen shrub bears dark green leaves which make for a striking backdrop to its profusion of highly fragrant small creamy-white flowers. It makes an ideal screening hedge or container plant and grows well in rich, moist humus in full sun or part shade.

Rangoon creeper Indigenous to Malaysia, the Philippines and Western Africa, it is a rampant climber and is ideal for supports such as the trellis or pergola posts. Being a robust plant, it is used to hide unsightly walls and has a preference for light soil. The flowers hang in large bunches and release a pleasant perfume in the night. Each bunch of flowers can be a mix of white, pink or reddish pink colours.

Vallaris glabra Also known as the bread flower or kesidang, it is a highly popular woody climber native to Southeast Asia. Its white flowers form clusters with a fragrance similar to the pandan. It is highly tolerant of wide ranging conditions and can be trained as a compact bush or grown in a container. Hummingbirds and butterflies are frequent visitors of this plant.

Jasmine sambac This woody shrub bears waxy, flowers that emit an intense fragrance, the flowers being harvested for use as tea flavouring or as garlands.