Khejri Tree (Prosopis cineraria): Rajasthan's State Tree and How to Grow It in Jaipur
Prosopis cineraria
Khejri is Rajasthan's state tree: it stays green in the hottest months, enriches the soil and gives sangri and fodder. How to plant it in Jaipur, care for it in the first three years, and why it matters to the Bishnoi community.
Benefits
Benefits
Soil. Khejri is a nitrogen-fixing legume that raises soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium under its canopy.
Food and fodder. Tender pods (sangri) are a well-known Rajasthani vegetable and a main ingredient of panchkuta, and ripe dry pods (khokha) are also eaten. The leaves (loong) are nutritious fodder that animals like, especially in winter when little other green fodder is available. Seed-grown trees usually take 10–15 years to bear pods regularly; grafted plants can start in 3–4 years.
Water and farming. Its deep taproot draws on deep soil moisture, so it does not compete for water with nearby crops.
Shade and wildlife. It gives light, filtered shade and stays green in summer, sheltering people, livestock and wildlife. Its spring flowers are valued for honey.
Land and wood. Khejri is planted to stabilise sand dunes. Its hard, heavy heartwood is used for posts, construction and fuelwood.
Traditional use. Its bark, leaves and flowers are traditionally used in Ayurveda and folk medicine. This is traditional use only, not medical advice.
- Soil health: A nitrogen-fixing legume that raises soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium under its canopy.
- Fodder: Its leaves (loong) are a palatable, nutritious fodder, especially valuable in winter when little other green fodder is available.
- Edible: Tender pods (sangri) are a well-known Rajasthani vegetable and part of panchkuta; ripe dry pods (khokha) are also eaten.
- Water conservation: Its deep taproot draws on deep soil moisture, so it does not compete for water with nearby crops.
- Shade and cooling: Gives light, filtered shade and stays green in summer, sheltering people, livestock and wildlife.
- Pollinators: Its abundant spring flowers (March–May) are valued for honey production.
- Biodiversity: A keystone tree of the Thar that supports wildlife through the summer.
- Timber: Hard, heavy heartwood used for posts, construction and tool handles, and as fuelwood.
- Medicinal: Bark, leaves and flowers are traditionally used in Ayurveda and folk medicine. Traditional use only, not medical advice.
- Cultural: Rajasthan's state tree, revered as Shami, and central to the Bishnoi tradition and the 1730 Khejarli sacrifice.
- Other: Planted to stabilise sand dunes and reclaim land.
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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