Ashoka Tree (Saraca asoca)
Scientific Name: Saraca asoca — Ashoka tree.
Native Home: Indian subcontinent, especially parts of India.
Height: 6–10 metres.
Lifespan: Several decades.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Not a major commercial timber tree; mainly valued as an ornamental and medicinal plant.
Harvesting: Flowers, leaves, and bark have traditional uses; bark harvesting should be limited to protect the tree.
Age to Harvest: Flowers may appear after several years; bark should only be collected from mature trees using sustainable methods.
Products: Ornamental plants, cut flowers, and traditional herbal preparations.
- History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Widely used in Ayurveda, particularly in traditional preparations related to women's reproductive health.
Global Spread: Native to South Asia and cultivated in tropical gardens and parks.
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