India is a country bustling with life, culture, and traditions. The warm climate is perfect for many tropical Indian plants to thrive, which produce vibrant exotic flowers. These stunning blossoms are often used in festivals, wedding ceremonies, and burials.
And, there’s more than flowers creating natural beauty! Many tree species provide shade, food, and pretty structures in many landscapes. So, if you want to bring some Indian influence into your garden, researching what these plants need to grow is a fantastic place to start.
If you find yourself studying these gorgeous species, you might fall in love with all of them. So, choosing one can become impossible, leaving you disappointed that your landscape remains the same. That’s where we come in!
The following article contains concise content that tells you just enough to whet your appetite about these Indian plants.
We’re experienced in researching, so we looked high and low to collect information about the best species from this country. And, we’ve included extra photos so that you can weigh up whether the plants will fit in with your design.
So, to discover more, read on!
1. Neem Tree (Azadirachta Indica)
This tree is beloved by many in India because it can be used as a medicine to stop pests from getting in the way and treating viruses. In addition, the Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica) is great for most skin types, commonly used in many soap products!
2. Peepal Tree (Ficus Religiosa)
The Peepal Tree (Ficus Religiosa) has excellent air purifying properties, emitting oxygen no matter whether it’s night or day! As if that wasn’t lovely enough, the foliage forms beautiful heart shapes in luscious bright green tones, which hang from red-brown branches.
3. Banyan Tree (Ficus Benghalensis)
The Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis) is an excellent species for bringing shade to Indian gardens and growing thick trunks. This plant is so famous in this warm country that it’s their natural tree, and we can see why because it has a striking structure.
4. Arjuna Tree (Terminalia Arjuna)
If you’re looking for a species that produces a fibrous fruit and thrives in an Indian environment, we recommend getting the Arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna). In addition to these fibrous elements, the tree produces bright yellow blossoms from March to June.
5. Gulmohar Tree (Delonix Regia)
The Gulmohar tree (Delonix Regia) creates super vibrant red-orange flowers in fluffy collections of blossoms, which cast gorgeous shade underneath.
If you’re a beginner that wants to bring some Indian vibes to your landscape, we recommend getting this one as it survives well in dry soil so you can tolerate neglect.
6. Sal Tree (Shorea Robusta)
The Sal tree (Shorea Robusta) is sacred in Buddhism and Hinduism, producing oval-shaped shiny leaves with subtle lines. These bushy plants are known for creating brilliant wood for making timber structures, which means it’s ideal if you’re searching for a multipurpose species.
7. Indian Mahogany (Swietenia Mahogany)
The Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahogany) can grow to 40 feet tall and creates fanning foliage that provides shade to people looking to cool down outside. In addition, carpenters use this wood to carve chairs, tables, and musical instruments, which means if you’re keen on crafting with timber, it’s ideal!
8. Ashoka Tree (Saraca Asoca)
This tree stays green all year round, producing tall and long foliage formations with pointed leaves. This species creates blossoms in Spring from February to April, which are excellent for bringing warm pops of color to a suitable garden as the flowers are yellow and orange.
Related: 10 Different Types Of Indian Trees
9. Curry Tree (Murraya Koenigii)
The Curry tree (Murraya koenigii) has recognizable long and pointed light green leaves, which fan from delicate light brown stems, creating shade. If you want to add height to your landscape, we advise you to consider getting this species because it can grow to 6 meters tall!
10. Amla
The Amla tree is super great for those looking to bring a plant species with health benefits because the fruit has so many nutritional vitamins. With this fruit, many people in India make pickles, candies, jams, preservatives, shampoos, hair dyes, and makeup products.
11. Eucalyptus
The Eucalyptus can grow more than 280 feet tall and is renowned for creating many different useful cosmetic products, including gorgeously fragrant essential oils. And as if that wasn’t awesome enough, the species’ trunk can be used to make window frames, doors, and other items for the home.
12. Deodar
The Deodar is another species that creates beneficial oil that’s believed to help cure many ailments, including tiredness, which means taking this substance could perk you up. In addition, this species is sacred in Hinduism and is grown to decorate many dull outdoor spaces.
13. Tulsi ‘Holy Basil’ Or ‘Tulasi’
The Tulsi ‘Holy Basil’ or ‘Tulasi’ features in many teas, fragrances, and as an ingredient in Indian dishes, which means that you’ll have a very versatile plant if you buy this species. This species is so beloved because it creates a distinctive flavor that can enhance many chefs’ skill sets.
14. Tumeric
Tumeric is a flavorful addition to many curries and is renowned for creating a deep orange-yellow powder that turns different dishes a bright color. In addition, this plant is used in many religious ceremonies and is often believed to bring good luck!
15. Lagerstroemia Speciosa
The Lagerstroemia speciosa creates dark purple blossoms that bloom in Spring and Late Summer, which means that if you purchase this plant, you’ll get to enjoy the flowers twice a year! This is such a showy species that its blossoms reach a length of 30 centimeters.
16. Teak
Known for creating high-quality furniture, the Teak plant produces foliage that stays on the brown bark all year round. This bark can even cure viruses, and the leaves are a popular food for feeding cows.
17. Mahua ‘Tree Of Life Of Tribal India.’
The Mahua ‘Tree of life of tribal India’ can often be found in the country’s center, producing gorgeous flowers that can be eaten. If you’re keen on alcoholic drinks, you might be interested to know that this species is used in India to create boozy beverages in many parts of India.
18. Kikar
The Kikar is perfect for filling a bare spot because it produces resilient branches and has bushy foliage. But, perhaps the most striking feature of this plant is its bold, bright red flowers used to create dyes in India’s famous color-filled Holi festival.
19. Parijat
This plant has fragrant snow-white flowers with orange centers, which are perfect for adding a pop of color to an overly green landscape. Strikingly, these blossoms bloom during the darkest hours and drop off during the day.
20. Oak
The oak tree is often found in India, producing characteristic leaves with squiggly edges, which fan out across the dark brown branches. This species can grow tall with robust trunks known for making furniture, hard flooring, and exciting sculptures.
21. Asparagus
The Asparagus is perhaps best known for creating edible parts that can be cooked by being boiled and make an excellent addition to salads. This species is famous worldwide for the health-conscious because it has no fat in it and can be juiced to help boost people’s immune systems.
22. Kokum
Creating edible fruit, the Kokum plant is an ingredient in juices, which is ideal for those looking for a versatile species to grow in a warm climate. In addition to producing nutritionally beneficial elements, this plant is a decorative species that adds structure to gardens.
23. Indian Tulip
The Indian Tulip has vibrant flowers that are native to India and bring brightness to landscaping spaces. In addition, the species has beneficial bark that is used to treat joint pain, stomach issues, and viruses, which is brilliant for those searching for holistic remedies.
24. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
The Weeping fig (Ficus Benjamina) is often seen in Indian houses because it creates edible blossoms, added to many different dishes. However, if you’re not keen on cooking, you can turn this species into a bonsai plant, which will add an adorable decorative element to any interior decor.
25. Khejri
The Khejri is a decorative species, which has been made Rajistan’s state tree. This plant is even worshipped during a festival called Dasara!
Conclusion
India is packed with many gorgeous plant species that look brilliant in any suitable landscape! We adore that whether you’re searching for a tall tree, bonsai houseplant, or space-filling shrub, there are Indian species that are ideal!
However, if you’re looking for a plant that will give you shade and impressive structure, we recommend you get yourself a banyan tree. This species is renowned throughout India for having a super thick trunk, which lends itself to hanging rope swings on it.
If you can’t get enough of learning about plants, we’ve got so much more content that we believe you’ll enjoy! So, check out the rest of our stuff and learn.
