Dwarf Magnolia, Cempaka Telur, Cempaka Gondok, Coconut Magnolia

I bought mine in spring it was about 3'/1m tall. It seems to like a fair bit of early morning light , moist soil, and seaweed/liquid fert...Read Moreiliser (to get it growing and blooming). The buds took about 8 weeks to bloom and older seem to stay small until one flower finishes blooming, giving a succession of blooms.
The fragrance reminds me of Japanese melon chewing gum, and one flower will fill a large room (especially a warm one).
Whilst the fragrance is mild and addictive (like my Brunfelsia americana and overpowering Cestrum nocturnum scents), it's the perfectly shaped blooms that impress me the most. Very clear, symmetrical but slightly unordered patterns. The sort of perfection you'd only expect from an orchid.

To my nose, the fragrance of Magnolia coco is similar to Magnolia liliifera but not as 'sharp' or 'piercing' and it is a tad more pleasan...Read Moret. I can detect notes of fresh pineapples, honeydew melons, canteloupe, a hint of strawberry and maybe a little bit of lychee. It's very complex; as if nature captured the scent of a tropical fruit cocktail, if you will.

I suspect fragrance may vary a little bit from plant to plant due to genetics. Not only that, there are selections that produce double flowers as well (see the photos uploaded by 'jnana'). The flowers on mine were smaller than I expected, about 3 inches or so.

In my experience here in So. California, the flower buds can take more than 7 months to fully develop. I believe this may be due to the dramatic difference between day and night temperatures we receive in inland So California and puts the growing of Magnolia coco to a halt (but it's perfect for citrus). My M. coco only started producing new leaves again in late May-June when the night temps remained steadily above 55F. I'm not sure how cold hardy this is, I brought mines indoor for Winter to grow under fluorescent lights and it was problem-free.

Update: June 2013
It seems like the winter was what suspended the flower buds growth. I had my two plants outdoors all winter this year and they did great without any frost damage at all. Seems about as cold hardy as Magnolia x alba (Michelia alba).
In May, the flower buds start to form and grow faster than the flower buds that may have straddled from the previous year in Autumn.

Very impressive and easy to grow dwarf Magnolia. It tolerates the cool winters of Athens very well (average temperature 50F/10C), but it ...Read Moreneeds protection from freezing temperatures. Perfectly adapted to our Mediterranean climate. The scent reminds me the smell of the fruit of Salak palm ( Salacca zalacca ), also it reminds the aroma of melon.

There are a few similar species. The one I have is the smallest. She is a shrub possibly smaller than Gardenia. Like Gardenia, they love ...Read Moreacid soil too. I estimate the leaves are only 3-5 inches long. The white flowers of the unique Magnolia open quietly at sunset. Over night, she releases an intoxicating sweet-pineapple scent. The scent is unusually powerful. There is a reason to it. Most magnolias lack nectar, but the Magnolia coco is a nice exception - it secretes a nectar-like substance inside the flower. Sadly, after just one night of beauty and perfume, the short-lived flower falls off the second day. Gladly, Magnolia coco keeps producing new buds for 9+ months each year.