Explore Jul 12, 2011 #56 So brilliantly yellow and delightfully curvaceous! Cananga odorata is a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae, that exceeds 15 ft per year and attains an average height of 40 ft. It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rain forest habitat. The evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy, oval, pointed, with wavy margins, and 5–8 in long. The flower is drooping, long-stalked with six narrow greenish yellow (rarely pink) petals, rather like a sea star in appearance, and yields a highly fragrant essential oil which is used in making Chanel #5 perfume. Its clusters of black fruit are an important food item for birds, pigeons and doves. Ylang Ylang has therapeutic properties too: Antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac and hypotensive, sedative. The name ylang-ylang is derived either from the word "ilang" meaning "wilderness", alluding to its natural habitat, or the word "ilang-ilan," meaning "rare", suggestive of its exceptionally delicate scent. A more widely accepted translation is "flower of flowers". The plant is native to the Philippines and Indonesia and is commonly grown in Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. And here in South Florida. Ylang Ylang, Cananga odorata Biscayne Park, FL www.susanfordcollins.com