Initially described by Portuguese missionary and naturalist João de Loureiro as Liriodendron figo, it was reclassified as Michelia figo by German botanist Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel.

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens for its fragrant flowers, which are cream-white and sometimes yellow, purple rounded, or light-purple, and strongly scented with isoamyl alcohol.

Flower buds, as well as new leaves, are covered with hairs, giving it a texture similar to that of velvet.

It grows very slowly and matures into a large evergreen compact tree.

It grows in acid and alkaline soil very well, but is susceptible to black soot.