Rohida Tree (Tecomella undulata): Rajasthan's State Flower and How to Grow It in Jaipur
Tecomella undulata
Rohida gives Rajasthan its state flower and the Thar its main native timber, and it is now Endangered. When to plant it in Jaipur, how to water and protect it for three years, what it does for birds and soil, and what to watch out for.
Benefits
Benefits
Flowers and birds. The tubular flowers are 5–7 cm long and full of nectar. Field notes from the Rajasthan Biodiversity Network describe the red-vented bulbul pushing its head deep into the flower and pollinating it, while the purple sunbird often pierces the flower's base and steals the nectar. The old name "honey tree" suits it.
Shelter. It is known as a home for birds and other desert wildlife, and its shade shelters cattle, goats and sheep on summer days.
Holding the soil. A network of lateral roots close to the surface binds loose topsoil, and it is planted as a windbreak and to steady shifting sand dunes.
Fodder. Cattle and goats eat the leaves, and camels, goats and sheep eat the flowers and pods.
Timber. The wood is strong, tough and durable and takes a fine finish, which is how it earned the name Marwar teak. It has long been used for furniture, carving and farm implements. If you plant one, let it stand: wild Rohida has been cut far faster than it regrows.
Traditional use. The bark, called Rohitaka in Ayurveda, has a long history in traditional and folk medicine, and the plant has a monograph in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. This is traditional use only, not medical advice.
- Ornamental: Bunches of showy tubular flowers, 5-7 cm long, in yellow, orange or red each spring.
- Pollinators: Nectar-rich flowers: the red-vented bulbul feeds from them and pollinates the tree; purple sunbirds also visit. Hence the name 'honey tree'.
- Biodiversity: Known as a home for birds and a shelter for other desert wildlife.
- Shade and cooling: Its crown gives summer shade to resting cattle, goats and sheep.
- Soil health: A network of lateral roots near the surface binds loose topsoil.
- Other: Planted as a windbreak and to stabilise shifting sand dunes.
- Fodder: Cattle and goats eat the leaves; camels, goats and sheep eat the flowers and pods.
- Timber: Strong, tough, durable wood that takes a fine finish ('Marwar teak'), used for furniture, carving and farm implements. Overcutting is a main reason it is now endangered.
- Medicinal: The bark (Rohitaka) is used in Ayurveda and folk medicine and has a monograph in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Traditional use only, not medical advice.
- Cultural: Rajasthan's state flower, and the tree that brings spring colour to Marwar and Shekhawati.
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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