Ashoka Tree (Saraca asoca): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Saraca asoca
The true Ashoka or Sita Ashok (Saraca asoca) is the sacred, orange-flowered tree of the Ramayana, not the tall roadside Mast tree. How to recognise it, its scientific and Hindi names, where it grows in India, how and when to plant it, and the shade and water it needs.
Cultural significance
The Ashoka is one of the most sacred trees of India, linked above all with Sita and the Ramayana. Flowers of India calls it one of India's most legendary and sacred trees. The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna Zoo), run by the Bihar government, notes that Sita Ashok is named after Sita's refuge in the Ramayana, that it is often planted near shrines, and that it is seen as a symbol of purity and feminine grace. Whether planting one brings good or bad luck to a home is a matter of belief, such as vastu, and not something this page can judge.
Sources: Flowers of India: Sita Ashok (Saraca asoca); Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna Zoo), Govt of Bihar: Sita Ashok tree
This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked by the GreenEye team against the sources shown in each section.
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