In Mumbai’s bustling flower markets, the golden-yellow Sonchafa reigns supreme — its scent lingering in temples, homes, and wedding halls. But behind this perennial marvel lies a quiet revolution from the red soils of Vetal-Bambarde, Sindhudurg, led by Uday Gopinath Velankar.

The bloom that never sleeps

Sonchafa or Sonchampa (Magnolia champaca) has seven known varieties — saffron, pale yellow, bright yellow, pure white, and dense yellow among them. None bloom year-round.

Velankar chose to focus on the dense yellow type. By grafting it onto the mother plant, he developed the Velankar Chafa, now a well-recognised cultivar. It begins flowering in its second year and continues for 35–40 years. In contrast, seed-grown plants may take up to 12 years to bloom. A one-year-old grafted plant sells for Rs 150.

Sonchafa begins as a shrub, growing eight to 10 feet before becoming a climbing vine. Its greenish-yellow flowers are intensely fragrant and last for days in water. The plant thrives in most soil types and requires minimal care, except in waterlogged areas.

To promote it, Velankar travelled across Maharashtra — from Palghar to Aurangabad — carrying saplings, guiding farmers.........

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