Neolamarckia cadamba: Uses, benefits, grow and care tips

Neolamarckia cadamba is a native tree of India. This tree is also known commonly as burflower tree abroad and kadam or cadamba in India. This evergreen, tropical tree can rise upto a height of 20 feet and has a moderately thick trunk. The beauty of the tree lies in its sweet-scented orange flowers. The flowers are round in shape and also have dense, white globe-shaped clusters. 

The tree is not merely ornamental since it has many uses. The trunk of the Neolamarckia cadamba is used for timber and manufacturing paper. Additionally, the sweet-scented flowers are used to make perfumery for people. 

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see also about: Moringa tree

Neolamarckia cadamba: Key facts

How to grow Neolamarckia Cadamba?

You can grow Kadamba Tree from seedlings, which can purchased from a local nursery. They have a high survival rate. The tree grows through the method of seed sowing. Seeds are extracted from fruits, dried and crushed. The process allows germination chances. They germinate in around three to four weeks.

Neolamarckia cadamba: Ideal conditions to grow

The Neolamarckia cadamba is a tropical plant, so it can’t survive in extreme cold or hot temperatures. The tree can grow upto a towering height if it’s taken care of over the course of a few years. 

Kadamba tree flowers during the monsoon season in Southeast Asia. This season usually commences at the end of June and ends in September. However, ideal weather and soil conditions are also necessary for Neolamarckia cadamba to grow in abundance.

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Here are some of the ideal conditions required to grow Neolamarckia cadamba:-

• Soil

The Neolamarckia cadamba grows in alluvial and fertile river soil that is found under 1000 m of elevation. It draws a lot of nourishment from this rich fertile soil. However, they can also survive on other types of soil as long as you fertilise them from time to time. The tree can also tolerate flooding but not on a regular basis. 

• Light

The Kadam tree or Neolamarckia cadamba needs plenty of sunlight to thrive. Although the tree doesn’t have much demand from the soil, it does require adequate sunlight for growth. When planting a Kadam tree, always make sure to plant them in a place where the sunlight stays at least for 5-6 hours a day. Avoid planting young trees in damp and under the shade of other tall trees.

• Temperature 

The ideal temperature required for the Neolamarckia cadamba is between 25-30°C. The tree is highly intolerant to cold weather temperatures, which is why they are found in plains and low-lying areas. When temperatures get too hot, the leaves and flowers on the tree will be scorched, and they will decay pretty easily.

Neolamarckia cadamba: Uses

The Neolamarckia cadamba has a lot of different uses and is planted for the very same reason. While many people prefer planting them for their ornamental flowers and beautiful evergreen leaves.

The evergreen tree has been sustaining the lives of countless people who are involved with making paper and perfumes from the plant. Additionally, the plant was also useful in making medicines in ancient times and still finds relevance in Ayurveda. 

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Here are some of the most common uses of Neolamarckia cadamba that make the tree extremely beneficial for everyone:-

• Wood and Timber

The Neolamarckia cadamba is a great source of wood and timber. Old and tall kadam trees yield a lot of wood. The wood from the kadam tree is popular because it’s more affordable than other options of mahogany and cedar. It’s pretty durable and used to manufacture plywood and assorted furniture. 

• Paper

The Neolamarckia cadamba tree is also popularly used to make paper and paper products. The pulp of the tree is used by paper manufacturing companies to make durable and affordable paper. It is a great way to make sustainable paper while keeping price margins lower than other sources.

• Fragrances

The sweet scent of the Neolamarckia cadamba is preferred by a lot of people. For this reason, extracts from the Kadam tree are used for making scents and fragrances in India. From locally made perfumes to big brands, the Kadam tree flowers are used by all to create a sweet floral fragrance at low costs.

• Astrology

The Neolamarckia cadamba is also useful for Vastu purposes. It is used to irradiate the ill effects of Jupiter. Having a kadam tree around the borders of your house can bring you peace and wealth since it’s considered auspicious. The tree is also said to protect people from evil eyes.

Neolamarckia cadamba: Benefits

The Neolamarckia cadamba or kadam plant also has various health benefits. It is widely consumed by people to treat problems like blood sugar, inflammation, and skin infection. Here are some health benefits of the kadam tree:-

• In Ayurveda, the Neolamarckia cadamba tree has great significance. It is used to make pain medicines that have helped countless people. 
• Medicines for inflammation and allergies in Ayurveda also contain extracts of the kadam tree.
• The leaves of the Neolamarckia cadamba tree are said to have methanolic extracts that are useful for regulating blood sugar levels. 
• The great antiseptic properties of the kadam tree make it great for treating wounds and abrasions.
• The extracts of the kadamba fruit contain traces of alcohol that act as antibacterial agents against bacteria like pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, and staphylococcus aureus.

Neolamarckia cadamba: Religious significance

Kadamba tree is regarded as a sacred tree in India according to Bhagvad Puran. Several ancient verses reveal that Lord Krishna and Radha used to play in the shades of the scented flowering Kadamba tree. Moreover, the tree finds its mention in an episode where Krishna steals the clothes of gopis and hides in the tree barks. The Kadamba Tree has mentions in several Sanskrit and Hindi stories, poems, paintings, and artifacts.

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