Palash (Butea monosperma) is the ideal plant to give your landscape a tropical feel. The entire crest of this plant, often known as the “flame of the forest,” is covered in unusual, vivid, beautiful flowers. The blooms produce a colour used to dye clothing and are also utilised in Holi, a traditional festival of colours in India.
Palash tree: Quick facts
| Botanical name | Butea monosperma |
| Common name | Flame of the Forest, Bastard teak, Bengal kino, Palas tree, Battle of Plassey tree, and Parrot tree |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Native to | the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. |
| Tree size | 40 to 50 feet. |
| Tree colour | Bright, red, and orangish flowers
Ash-coloured branches |
| Soil type | Shallow, black cotton soil, clay loam, fertile loamy soil, and water-retaining soils. |
| Temperature | 30-35 degrees Celsius |
| Season | Flowering in spring,
Fruits – May to July |
| Toxic | Non-toxic |
see also about: teak-tree-maintenance-tips
Palash tree: Physical description
The golden flame of the forest is another name for the Butea monosperma plant. It is an intermediate dry-season deciduous tree that can reach a height of 49 feet. The leaves are tripinnate, with three 10–20 cm long leaflets and an 8–16 cm long petiole. Each flower has five petals: one regular, two smaller wings, and a slightly bent keel that resembles a beak.
Charming ivory-white flower buds and vibrant yellow flowers that cover the tree are there. The five petals of the blooms feature a keel-like beak. These odourless blooms are massed along the ends of the stalks and are a deep, contrasting green, like the cup-shaped calyces, perfectly highlighting the stiff, brilliant blossoms’ brilliance.
Source: Pinterest
Palash tree: How to grow
Source: Pinterest
Even though it may grow in a shaded region, it prefers full sun to some shade to thrive. It needs 6-7 hours of solid sunlight daily.
In good, loamy soil with regular moisture, it grows the best. The tree grows best in slightly saline soil with a pH between 8 and 9. Use manure or compost to improve the soil’s quality if it is heavy clay.
Keep the soil consistently moist during growing because the plant needs moist soil. Generally, water the plants well when the topsoil appears dry, particularly in the heat.
In subtropical and tropical climes, the plant thrives. It can tolerate temperatures between 30 and 45 degrees Celsius.
During the growing season, you can spread organic fertiliser or well-rotted cow dung manure once a month (December to February). Use a high-nitrogen fertiliser, such as 3:1:2, twice as long as the growing season.
To stop water loss, mulch the base with shredded leaves or grass clippings. Early winter leaves that have fallen make excellent organic mulch.
You can spray neem oil or eucalyptus oil at the base of the plant to protect it. Additionally, remove any dead or contaminated portions as soon as you notice them.
How to plant a Palash tree from seeds?
- Beginning with seeds is a good route to get into farming.
- Start with a 20:20:60 ratio of soil, organic manure, and agro peat.
- Agro peat facilitates root penetration and increases the growing medium’s capacity to hold water.
- You may use the available soil if high-quality agro peat or manure is unavailable.
- Open the seed packet on white paper to prevent the seeds from spilling.
- Add the seeds to a depth of half an inch in the prepared mixture.
- Only sprinkle water on the newly planted seeds to moisten them.
- It is best to avoid directly pouring water on the seedlings because the power of the water could harm them.
- Please be aware that all seeds need a good deal of warmth and light to sprout.
- Depending on the variety, germination could happen in 10–18 days.
- You can move the seeds to pots or other locations once the seedlings reach a height of about three inches.
- To control weeds and pests, apply organic pesticides in diluted proportions.
How are Palash saplings planted?
- Decide where to plant the plants after carefully removing them from the boxes.
- Plants whose topsoil is dry should be watered. Don’t overwater the plant.
- The soil needs to be healthy, well-drained, and rich in organic matter for plants to develop.
- To determine the soil’s moisture content, insert your finger into the ground.
- Keep the soil dry between waterings while maintaining moisture in the pot. Overwatering could damage your plant.
- Place your new plant in a location with medium to bright indirect sunlight after watering. It needs at least six hours of indirect sunshine per day.
- If a plant branch is broken during transport, prune it.
- Plantings will undoubtedly love the arrival of new leaves!
Palash tree: Maintenance tips
- Palash requires at least six hours of direct sunlight.
- The soil must be well-drained, fertile, and organic for these plants to flourish.
- Ensure to keep the water off the leaves when watering the plants once a week.
- Don’t overwater the plant; water it from the base up.
- Watering should occur more frequently in the summer and less frequently in the wet and winter months.
- Make sure the plant’s roots are damp but not overly wet.
- Before you plant the seeds, fertilise the soil with nitrogen.
- After applying the fertiliser, immediately water the ground.
- You can remove the old dirt from the plant’s roots by removing any rotting and dead roots.
- When repotting, it’s best to do so in the dark and to put the plant in a shaded area for at least two to three days before relocating it to the proper environment.
- Use Eucalyptus oil, Neem oil, or citrus oil spray as the initial treatment for an insect or pest infestation.
Palash tree: Benefits
- Many Ayurveda practitioners employ the leaves’ astringent, diuretic, anticancer, and anti-diabetic effects to treat conditions like high blood pressure and diarrhoea.
- The roots help manage conditions like piles, ulcers, tumours, night blindness, cataract, and other inflammatory diseases.
- Hindus venerate the blossoms, and their extract creates the “Kesari” colour during Holi and as a fabric dye.
- The mixture of seeds and honey is also used as an antifungal and antibacterial treatment for illnesses.
- Medicines for goitre, diarrhoea, ulcers, and sore throat frequently use stem bark.
- Palash tree leaves make excellent organic mulch for plants.
Palash tree: Uses
- Wood, resin, food, medicine, gum, and dye are commercially used tree products.
- From its wood, high-quality charcoal is produced.
- Newsprint is produced using wood pulp.
- The leaves are stitched together to create a leaf plate to serve meals on, and you can also use them to construct bowls.
- In horticulture, it is used as a decorative plant and as a hedge plant.
- The tree produces gum with tannins that are employed both in the medicinal business and the leather industry. Additionally, several food preparations use gum.
- The blooms lure mosquitoes to lay their eggs by acting as bait.
- Cordage is made from bark fibres.
- It makes a perfect patio tree, modest shade tree, and attractive lawn specimen.
FAQs
What makes Palash a holy tree?
The tree is supposed to be a manifestation of Agni, the God of fire and battle. These flowers are utilised explicitly in Telangana during Shivaratri to worship Shiva.
Why is Palash referred to as the forest flame?
When the tree begins to shed its leaves, this plant's vivid orange flame-like flowers appear. The entire tree then bursts into blazing colour, earning it the nickname Flame of the Forest.
Can Palash be employed to treat diabetes?
Yes, Butea monosperma is effective in treating diabetes. The Palash ethanolic extracts have pharmacological action similar to insulin, thus controlling blood sugar levels.