Plants & Trees
How to grow and care for India's trees and plants: when to plant, soil, water, varieties and where to find saplings.
Sagwan (Teak) Tree (Tectona grandis): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Tectona grandis
Sagwan or teak (सागवान, सागौन) is Tectona grandis, India's best-known timber tree, native to the forests of the…
Coconut (Nariyal) Tree (Cocos nucifera): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Cocos nucifera
Nariyal is the coconut, Cocos nucifera of the palm family. How to plant a coconut tree in India: the best season, pit…
Jackfruit (Kathal) Tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Jackfruit, kathal (कटहल) in Hindi, is Artocarpus heterophyllus, the big evergreen fruit tree native to India. How to…
Imli (Tamarind) Tree (Tamarindus indica): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Tamarindus indica
Imli, tamarind in English, is Tamarindus indica, the drought-hardy fruit and shade tree of Indian villages. How and…
Gular Tree (Ficus racemosa): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Ficus racemosa
Gular (गूलर), the cluster fig, is Ficus racemosa, a native fig tree of India's rivers and ponds. What a gular tree…
Chandan (Sandalwood) Tree (Santalum album): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Santalum album
Chandan, or Indian sandalwood (Santalum album), is a hemi-parasitic tree that cannot grow without a host plant beside…
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…
Guava (Amrood) Tree (Psidium guajava): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Psidium guajava
Guava, amrood (अमरूद) in Hindi, is Psidium guajava, the hardy small fruit tree grown across India. How and when to…
Mango (Aam) Tree (Mangifera indica): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Mangifera indica
Mango, aam (आम) in Hindi, is Mangifera indica, the evergreen fruit tree planted across India. How to plant a grafted…
Gulmohar Tree (Delonix regia): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Delonix regia
Gulmohar (Delonix regia), the flame tree or royal poinciana in English, is a summer-flowering avenue tree from…
Kadamb Tree (Neolamarckia cadamba): Where It Grows in India, Care, Benefits and Meaning
Neolamarckia cadamba
Kadamb or kadam (Neolamarckia cadamba), Krishna's monsoon tree with golden ball-shaped flowers, comes from wet…
Jamun Tree (Syzygium cumini): Where It Grows in India and How to Care for It
Syzygium cumini
Jamun (Syzygium cumini), or Java plum, is a native Indian fruit tree loved by people, bees and birds. It grows across…
Kachnar Tree (Bauhinia variegata): Where It Grows in India and How to Use Its Buds
Bauhinia variegata
Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), called the orchid tree in English, flowers on bare branches in late winter and gives the…
Amaltas Tree (Cassia fistula): Where It Grows in India and How to Grow It
Cassia fistula
Amaltas (Cassia fistula), the golden shower tree, grows wild in deciduous forests across India, flowers through the…
Rohida Tree (Tecomella undulata): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Tecomella undulata
Rohida (Tecomella undulata) is an endangered desert tree of India's dry north-west, widely listed as Rajasthan's state…
Rudraksh Tree (Elaeocarpus sphaericus): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Elaeocarpus sphaericus
Rudraksh (Elaeocarpus sphaericus, also sold as E. ganitrus), the sacred bead tree, comes from the humid Himalayan…
Ashoka (Mast Tree): Where Monoon longifolium Grows in India and How to Plant It
Monoon longifolium
The tall, evergreen "Ashoka" or mast tree (Monoon longifolium, sold as Polyalthia longifolia) seen along Indian roads.…
Moringa (Sahjan): Where the Drumstick Tree Grows in India and How to Plant It
Moringa oleifera
Sahjan (Moringa oleifera), called moringa or the drumstick tree in English, is a native, fast-growing food tree whose…
Bel (Bael) Tree (Aegle marmelos): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Aegle marmelos
Bel or bael (Aegle marmelos) is a hardy native fruit tree that copes with hot, dry summers, drought and salty soil.…
Amla (Indian Gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica): A Hardy Native Fruit Tree for India
Phyllanthus emblica
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), the Indian gooseberry, is a tough native fruit tree that grows in dry, poor and even salty…
Arjun Tree (Terminalia arjuna): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Terminalia arjuna
The Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna, Hindi अर्जुन) is a large native shade tree of India's riverbanks, valued in…
Khejri Tree (Prosopis cineraria): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Prosopis cineraria
Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), also called Shami or Jand, is a native tree of India's dry north-west: it stays green in…
Bargad (Banyan Tree): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant India's National Tree
Ficus benghalensis
The Bargad, or banyan (Ficus benghalensis), is India's national tree: a huge, long-lived shade tree whose aerial roots…
Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Ficus religiosa
The peepal (Ficus religiosa), or sacred fig, is a long-lived shade tree that feeds birds and bats and is revered…