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.
Toxicity
Cautions and safety
The main risks with the true Ashoka are buying the wrong tree, planting it somewhere too dry or sunny, and using its bark as medicine without advice.
- Check that it is the true Ashoka. Look for compound leaves with pairs of leaflets. A tall, narrow tree with long, wavy single leaves is the Mast tree.
- Too dry, too sunny. It is a tree of moist forests. In hot, dry regions it needs a sheltered spot, afternoon shade and watering every dry season.
- Toxicity is not well documented. We found no ASPCA entry and no reliable data on people, cats or dogs. It is not a food plant. Keep children and pets from chewing the leaves, seeds or bark, and if anyone swallows part of the plant and feels unwell, see a doctor, or a vet for a pet.
- Bark as medicine. Traditional use does not prove that it works or is safe. Talk to a qualified doctor before using any Ashoka preparation, and remember that Mast tree bark is often sold as Ashoka bark.
- Protect the tree. It was assessed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List global assessment of 1998, and the ICAR-DMAPR study names destructive harvesting of the bark as the main reason it has become scarce. Buy saplings from a forest-department or other reputable nursery, never dig up wild plants, and never strip bark from living trees.
- Humans
- Not verified — check before exposing pets or children
- Pets and animals
- Not verified — check before exposing pets or children
This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked by the GreenEye team against the sources shown in each section.
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