Top 25 Common But Lesser Known Trees in India

Here is the list of most common and lesser known trees names of India also include Dalbergia latifolia, Leucaena leucocephala,Moringa oleifera and Terminalia catappa.

Oak Tree

Oak tree in India are mostly found in the Himalayan region along with pine forest. In hill states of India, Oak wood used to make agricultural implements.

Arjun/Terminalia arjuna

Arjuna Tree found growing near dry river banks in India and used in Ayurveda for treatment of heart disease. The arjuna is also sacred in Buddhism and nickname as Guardian of the heart.

Shisham/Dalbergia sissoo

Dalbergia sissoo is known as Shisham in India or by the name of Indian Rosewood. The fast growing tree is native to the Indian Subcontinent and an important commercial timber.

Sagwan Tree/Teak

Sagwan Tree is a flowering plant native to Asia mainly India. The teak tree wood is used for manufacture of furniture, flooring and home to Hyblaea puera moth, caterpillar and timber termite.

Shala Tree/Shorea robusta

Shorea robusta or shala tree is native to the Indian subcontinent. The sal tree is favoured by Lord Vishnu and one of the most important sources of hardwood timber in India.

Babul/Vachellia nilotica

Vachellia nilotica or Indian acacia tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and an invasive species. Babul tree is very popular with cattle and also used as a toothbrush in India along with Azadirachta indica commonly known as Neem.

Mahua/Madhuca longifolia

Madhuca longifolia commonly known as mahuwa, found mostly in central Indian forest, in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. The mahuwa flowers are edible and used medicinal purposes as well for to produce alcoholic drink called Mahuwa in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

Tendu/Diospyros melanoxylon

Diospyros melanoxylon or Indian ebony tree is native to central India and also known by the name of kendu and tendu in Chhattisgarh. Tendu leaves are used create the Indian beedi, traditional cigarette of India.

Jangli Badam/Terminalia catappa

Terminalia catappa or Indian almond is a large tropical tree and the branches are distinctively arranged in tiers. The wood is red and solid and the fruit is edible tasting almost like almond, hence known as Jangli Badam.

Jungli Jalebi/Pithecellobium dulce

Pithecellobium dulce or Jungli Jalebi tree is an invasive species and a drought resistant tree. Foreign Tamarind tree contain a sweet and sour pulp and the seeds are also edible.

Kavat/Limonia acidissima

Limonia acidissima or elephant apple is known as Kavat in Hindi and in some regional languages known as kotha or Kaitha. Kaitha tree in native to India and the fruit is edible used to make a fruit juice just like Aegle marmelos or bael ka sharbat.

Kosam/Schleichera oleosa

Schleichera oleosa tree occurs in the Indian Subcontinent and the fruit is known as Kusum or Kosam in regional language. The tree mostly occurs in Central region of India and one of the main trees of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Saptaparni/Alstonia scholaris

Alstonia scholaris is also known as devil tree, native to the Indian subcontinent. The tree is state tree of West Bengal and known as Saptaparni in Bengali.

Indian Mahogany/Chukrasia tabularis

Indian mahogany tree is an important medicinal plant and widely used in Ayurveda. Chukrasia tabularis is called as Chikrasi in Hindi.

Weeping Fig/Ficus benjamina

Ficus benjamina is a flowering plant and a very popular houseplant in India. The plant fruit is edible and most popular plants for indoor bonsai.

Indian Tulip Tree/Thespesia populnea

Thespesia populnea is a small tree originated in India. This flowering plant commonly known as the Indian tulip tree and used in traditional Tahitian tribal drumming.

Khejri/Prosopis cineraria

Khejri tree is the state tree of Rajasthan and native to dry region of the Indian Subcontinent. The tree is worshipped in various parts of India during the Dasara Festival.

Kokum/Garcinia indica

Termianalia foetida is a popular fruit bearing tree from the Western Ghats region of India. The tree is ornamental and fresh fruits are part of the Maharashtra and Goan cuisine.

Bael/Aegle marmelos

Aegle marmelos and the fruit is commonly known as bael in India, considered to be sacred by Hindus. The stone apple tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and used in the ritual rites of Hindus.

Casuarina equisetifolia

Casuarina equisetifolia is an invasive species and an evergreen growing tree. The Casuarina tree leaves are mostly used for ornamental purposes in the urban region of India.

Pine Tree

Pine Trees are evergreen species and attractive ornamental plants for parks and larger gardens. Pines handicrafts are made in India, Mostly found in Vagamon of southern Western Ghats.

Sausage Tree/Kigelia Africana

Kigelia africana also known as cucumber tree due to its long sausage like fruit. The evergreen tree is native to Africa and grown as an ornamental tree but the fresh fruit is poisonous.

Deodar/Cedrus deodara

Cedrus deodara trees are found in the Himalayas and worshiped as a divine tree by Hindus. Deodar are grown as an ornamental tree and also used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus Trees are cultivated widely in the Indian subcontinent.  The tall evergreen trees are flowering and shrubs trees, found in abundance in Nilgiri Hills and south India.

Kapok Tree/Ceiba pentandra

Kapok Tree or Ceiba pentandra is the most used common tree in India, cultivated for the seed fibre. Safed semal flowers are an important source of nectar and kapok seeds are used for oil.

Badminton Ball Tree (Parkia Biglandulosa)

Badminton Ball Tree also known as African locust tree is a tall and handsome tree, don’t get confused with Delonix regia species of flowering tree. African locust tree known for its coloured tennis ball like flower heads and used as avenue tree in India.

Earleaf Acaci

Earleaf acaci (Acacia auriculiformis) is an evergreen fast growing tree also raised as an ornamental plant and the tree wood is good for making paper, furniture and tools.