About Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W.J.de Wilde
Common Name & Classification
Saraca asoca, commonly known as the ashoka, is a rain-forest tree.
Native Range
Its original native range covers central areas of the Deccan Plateau, and the middle section of the Western Ghats in the western coastal zone of the Indian subcontinent.
Ornamental Value
The ashoka is valued for its attractive foliage and sweet-scented flowers.
Growth Form & Foliage
It is a striking, small, erect evergreen tree, with deep green leaves that grow in dense clusters.
Flowering Season
Its flowering season occurs roughly from February to April.
Flower Arrangement
Ashoka flowers grow in heavy, full bunches.
Flower Coloration
They are bright orange-yellow when blooming, and change to red before they wilt.
Conservation Status
As a wild species, the ashoka is classified as vulnerable.
Current Distribution
It is growing increasingly rare in its natural habitat, but isolated wild individuals can still be found in the foothills of the central and eastern Himalayas, scattered spots on the northern plains of India, and along the subcontinent's west coast near Mumbai.
Varieties Overview
Several varieties of the ashoka tree exist.
Spreading Variety
One variety grows larger and has a widely spreading growth habit.
Cultivated Varieties
Columnar varieties are commonly grown in cultivation.
