Amla (Indian Gooseberry): A Hardy Native Fruit Tree for India
Phyllanthus emblica
Amla is a tough native fruit tree that grows in dry, poor and even salty soils, needs little water once settled, and bears vitamin C-rich fruit in winter (November–December in north India). Here is where it grows across India and how to plant and care for it.
Varieties
Known varieties and forms of this tree in India, how they differ and where they grow.
Released variety (11)
Kanchan (NA-4)Fruit: Medium size, higher fibre contentRipening time: Mid season; harvest by last week of November
A seedling selection from Chakaiya. Kanchan + Krishna is one of the recommended pollination pairs.
- Fruit
- Medium size, higher fibre content
- Ripening time
- Mid season; harvest by last week of November
- Other
- Regular and heavy bearer
- Best for
- Preferred by industry for products
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Krishna (NA-5)Fruit: Large, triangular-conical; flesh less fibrousRipening time: Early maturing
A seedling selection from Banarasi. Fruits are whitish green to apricot yellow with red spots.
- Fruit
- Large, triangular-conical; flesh less fibrous
- Ripening time
- Early maturing
- Best for
- Candy and juice
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
NA-6Fruit: Medium to large, flattened, very low fibreYield: 28 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)Ripening time: Mid season
A selection from Chakaiya with attractive, shining fruits. Plant it with NA-7 and NA-10 for cross-pollination.
- Fruit
- Medium to large, flattened, very low fibre
- Ripening time
- Mid season
- Yield
- 28 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)
- Best for
- Preserve (murabba), candy and jam
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
NA-7Fruit: Medium to large, conical apexYield: 51 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)Ripening time: Harvest by last week of October
Also called Neelam; a seedling selection from Francis and the leading cultivar by area in India. Heavy crops can break limbs, so keep a balanced canopy.
- Fruit
- Medium to large, conical apex
- Ripening time
- Harvest by last week of October
- Yield
- 51 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)
- Other
- Precocious, prolific regular bearer
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
NA-9
Part of the NDUAT NA-series released for commercial cultivation. The fetched sources give no separate trait details for it.
NA-10Fruit: Medium to large, flattened round, higher fibre
A chance seedling selection from Banarasi. Skin is rough, yellowish green with a pink tinge.
- Fruit
- Medium to large, flattened round, higher fibre
- Other
- Bears profusely
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Narendra Aonla-25Fruit: Flattened round, moderate size, creamy yellowYield: 34.73 kg/plant (2016–2020 average)Ripening time: Early
Identified as a variety at the AICRP on Arid Zone Fruits meeting in February 2021, from ANDUAT aonla Selection-25. Fruits keep well.
- Tree shape
- Upright and spreading
- Fruit
- Flattened round, moderate size, creamy yellow
- Fruit weight
- 52.76 g (5-year average)
- Yield
- 34.73 kg/plant (2016–2020 average)
- Ripening time
- Early
- Best for
- Preserve making
Sources: Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya
Narendra Aonla-26Fruit: Flattened round, moderate size, greenish yellowYield: 55.56 kg/plant (2016–2020 average)Ripening time: Mid season
Identified as a variety at the AICRP on Arid Zone Fruits meeting in February 2021. Recommended for rainfed arid and semi-arid regions of India.
- Tree shape
- Tall, spreading, dense foliage
- Fruit
- Flattened round, moderate size, greenish yellow
- Fruit weight
- 45.68 g (5-year average)
- Yield
- 55.56 kg/plant (2016–2020 average)
- Ripening time
- Mid season
- Best for
- Pickle and other products
Sources: Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya
Laxmi-52Fruit: Bold fruit, free from necrosis
A seedling selection from Francis. Heavy fruit load can crack branches.
- Tree shape
- Semi-erect, semi-spreading branches
- Fruit
- Bold fruit, free from necrosis
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Goma AishwaryaFruit: Low fibre contentYield: 102.9 kg/tree (average yield potential)Ripening time: Early
A clonal selection from a plus tree found in collections at CHES, Godhra (Gujarat). CIAH lists it among its released varieties.
- Ripening time
- Early
- Tolerance
- Drought tolerant
- Yield
- 102.9 kg/tree (average yield potential)
- Fruit
- Low fibre content
- Best for
- Processing and export
Sources: ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences)
Gujarat Aonla-1Fruit: Bigger fruit; pulp:stone 1.98:1Yield: 100–140 kg per tree per year
Released for the Middle Gujarat agro-climatic zone (Zone III). AAU describes it as high yielding with better-quality, high vitamin C fruit.
- Fruit
- Bigger fruit; pulp:stone 1.98:1
- Fruit weight
- 43 g
- Yield
- 100–140 kg per tree per year
- Other
- Vitamin C 815 mg/100 g
Source: Anand Agricultural University
Research selection (4)
Anand-1Fruit: Small, rough; fibrous, hard fleshRipening time: Last week of November (Gujarat)
The review says Anand 1, 2 and 3 "were selected from the seedling variability available in the Gujarat".
- Tree shape
- Tall, upright
- Fruit
- Small, rough; fibrous, hard flesh
- Ripening time
- Last week of November (Gujarat)
- Other
- Moderate bearer
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Anand-2Fruit: Small to medium, rough skinRipening time: Last week of November (Gujarat)
The review says Anand 1, 2 and 3 "were selected from the seedling variability available in the Gujarat".
- Tree shape
- Tall, upright
- Fruit
- Small to medium, rough skin
- Ripening time
- Last week of November (Gujarat)
- Other
- Moderate bearer; medium keeping quality
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Anand-3
The review says Anand 1, 2 and 3 "were selected from the seedling variability available in the Gujarat". No trait details were found for Anand-3.
BSR-1Fruit: Vitamin C 620 mg/100 g; fibrousYield: 43.05 t/ha
A seedling selection "recommended for commercial cultivation under irrigated and rainfed conditions of Tamil Nadu". TNAU lists it with NA-7 as a preferred variety in Tamil Nadu.
- Fruit weight
- 27.0 g (small fruit)
- Yield
- 43.05 t/ha
- Fruit
- Vitamin C 620 mg/100 g; fibrous
- Other
- Self-fruitful; crops round the year
- Best for
- High demand in Ayurvedic industries
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Local type (3)
BanarasiRipening time: Harvest by last week of October
An old type selected in Varanasi from wild trees of the Vindhyan hills. Krishna (NA-5) and NA-10 were selected from it.
- Ripening time
- Harvest by last week of October
- Tolerance
- Susceptible to internal fruit necrosis
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
ChakaiyaYield: 34 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)Ripening time: Harvest by last week of November
An old type that began as a Banarasi seedling with flat fruits, first called Chakla. Kanchan (NA-4) and NA-6 were selected from it.
- Ripening time
- Harvest by last week of November
- Yield
- 34 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid)
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
Francis (Hathijhool)
An old type brought from Gujarat to Pratapgarh, later called Hathijhool for its drooping branches. NA-7 and Laxmi-52 were selected from it.
- Tree shape
- Drooping branches
- Tolerance
- Highly susceptible to internal fruit necrosis
Sources: ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences), IGNOU eGyanKosh
Compare all varieties
| Variety | Tree shape | Fruit | Fruit weight | Yield | Ripening time | Tolerance | Best for | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanchan (NA-4) | — | Medium size, higher fibre content | — | — | Mid season; harvest by last week of November | — | Preferred by industry for products | Regular and heavy bearer |
| Krishna (NA-5) | — | Large, triangular-conical; flesh less fibrous | — | — | Early maturing | — | Candy and juice | — |
| NA-6 | — | Medium to large, flattened, very low fibre | — | 28 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid) | Mid season | — | Preserve (murabba), candy and jam | — |
| NA-7 | — | Medium to large, conical apex | — | 51 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid) | Harvest by last week of October | — | — | Precocious, prolific regular bearer |
| NA-10 | — | Medium to large, flattened round, higher fibre | — | — | — | — | — | Bears profusely |
| Narendra Aonla-25 | Upright and spreading | Flattened round, moderate size, creamy yellow | 52.76 g (5-year average) | 34.73 kg/plant (2016–2020 average) | Early | — | Preserve making | — |
| Narendra Aonla-26 | Tall, spreading, dense foliage | Flattened round, moderate size, greenish yellow | 45.68 g (5-year average) | 55.56 kg/plant (2016–2020 average) | Mid season | — | Pickle and other products | — |
| Laxmi-52 | Semi-erect, semi-spreading branches | Bold fruit, free from necrosis | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Goma Aishwarya | — | Low fibre content | — | 102.9 kg/tree (average yield potential) | Early | Drought tolerant | Processing and export | — |
| Gujarat Aonla-1 | — | Bigger fruit; pulp:stone 1.98:1 | 43 g | 100–140 kg per tree per year | — | — | — | Vitamin C 815 mg/100 g |
| Anand-1 | Tall, upright | Small, rough; fibrous, hard flesh | — | — | Last week of November (Gujarat) | — | — | Moderate bearer |
| Anand-2 | Tall, upright | Small to medium, rough skin | — | — | Last week of November (Gujarat) | — | — | Moderate bearer; medium keeping quality |
| BSR-1 | — | Vitamin C 620 mg/100 g; fibrous | 27.0 g (small fruit) | 43.05 t/ha | — | — | High demand in Ayurvedic industries | Self-fruitful; crops round the year |
| Banarasi | — | — | — | — | Harvest by last week of October | Susceptible to internal fruit necrosis | — | — |
| Chakaiya | — | — | — | 34 kg/tree (CIAH trial, hot arid) | Harvest by last week of November | — | — | — |
| Francis (Hathijhool) | Drooping branches | — | — | — | — | Highly susceptible to internal fruit necrosis | — | — |
Sources: Aonla (Emblica officinalis) in India: A review of its improvement, production and diversified uses (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 89(11): 1773-81, 2019) – ICAR (Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences); Arid Fruits, Unit 2: Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), section 2.3 Varieties of Aonla – IGNOU eGyanKosh; ICAR-CIAH Research Achievements (varieties released by CIAH; aonla varietal evaluation) – ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner; TNAU Agritech Portal: Horticulture, Fruits, Amla – Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; New varieties of aonla and bael released from AICRP Arid Zone Fruits, Ayodhya centre (AICRP-AZF office orders, 13.05.2022) – Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya; Varieties/Technologies 2021: variety released by university in 2021 – Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya; ICAR-CIAH Varieties identified at institute level (Fruits: Aonla, Goma Aishwary) – ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner; AAU crop varieties: Gujarat Aonla-1 – Anand Agricultural University
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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