What is the National Tree of India & How to Grow it

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Last Updated: 18.10.2023
Dhruvdeep Singh
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Meet Dhruv, a writer and nature lover from Amritsar, Punjab, who fell in love with gardening during the lockdown. With a B.Tech in Computer Science and over four years of writing experience, he brings a tech-savvy perspective to gardening. Dhruv's articles are a journey into the world of plants, offering exciting adventures for fellow nature enthusiasts.

Do you want to know What is the National Tree of India and what are its National Identity Elements? Here are all the details and also how to grow it!

What is the National Tree of India
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Most of us don’t know What is the National Tree of India and that’s why the search has brought you here. Don’t worry! We’ll give you all the details and more! Keep reading.

Learn how to make a banyan tree bonsai here


What is the National Tree of India?

The Indian Fig Tree, (Ficus benghalensis) is the national tree of India. It is also considered sacred in Hindu culture and as it lives for a really long time, people also associate it with longevity. The signature characteristic of this tree is the branches that root themselves to form more trunks.

Indian fig is also popular as ‘Kalpa Vriksha‘ or the ‘Tree of Wish Fulfillment. You can still see village councils taking place below it in most rural parts of India. Its bark, leaves, and roots are extensively used in Indian traditional medicine.


How to Grow the National Tree of India?

For propagating the banyan tree, take a 6-10 inches long stem cutting from a healthy branch of the tree. Remove all the lower leaves, keeping the top ones, dip the end in a rooting hormone, and plant it directly in the garden or a pot filled with a well-draining growing medium.

Water well and keep it at a location where it gets ample sunlight. It will root in 4-5 weeks.

Have a look at the most exotic fruit trees here


Significance of Indian Banyan

The national tree of India symbolizes the holy trinity:

  • Its bark represents Lord Vishnu
  • Its roots represent Lord Brahma
  • Its branches represent Lord Shiva

Women in India also tie threads around the trunk of the banyan tree during the ritual of Vat Savitri Puja.


Requirements for Growing a Banyan Tree

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Light and Location

Being a tropical tree, it loves sunlight. While planting, choose a location that gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Once the tree will be established, it will do just fine in both shade and sun.

Make sure you keep its spread in mind before choosing the location as it can get really big, spreading more than 80-120 feet.

Soil

Banyan tree is not fussy when it comes to the growing medium and does quite well in a regular garden soil. At the time of planting, amend the growing medium with plenty of organic matter to give it a boost in growth.

Watering

Make sure you water the tree on a regular basis as it likes the soil on a slightly moist side during the growing phase. Once it’s established, it will take care of it on its own.

Learn all about growing the Indian Coral Tree here


Taking Care of Indian Banyan

Fertilizer

It would be a good idea to feed the plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer, once in 4-6 weeks, during its growing period. Do refer to the label for instructions. You can also use a handful of cow manure in the growing medium every month.

Pests and Diseases

The tree is relatively safe from pests and diseases, so you don’t have to worry about it. Just ensure not to overwater the growing medium and allow plenty of air circulation around the plant.

Check out our article on growing Indian almond tree here


National Tree of India in Different Languages

Here are the names of the banyan tree in different Indian Languages:

  • National tree of India in Tamil: Aala
  • National tree of India in Telugu: Marri
  • National tree of India in Malayalam: Aalu / Peeralu
  • National tree of India in Marathi: Wad / Vada / वटवृक्ष (दिर्घायूचे प्रतिक)
  • National tree of India in Hindi: Bargad ka Ped / बरगद का वृक्ष
  • National tree of India in Kannada: Aalada Mara
  • National tree of India in Konkani: Vodacho Ruk
  • National tree of India in Bengali: Bot
  • National tree of India in Oriya: Bara
  • National tree of India in Tulu: Goalimara
  • National tree of India in Punjabi: Barh
  • National tree of India in Gujarati: Wad

Some Popular Banyan Trees in India

  • The great banyan tree of Kolkata is more than 250 years old. It was also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989 as the largest specimen.
  • A 550-year-old tree in Thimmamma Marrimanu village, in Andhra Pradesh. It covers 2.1 hectares and has 1,100-odd prop roots.
  • 500 years old tree, located in the temple premises of Jagannath Puri.

Here are all the details on growing the Gulmohar tree in India

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