Ashoka plant

🌿 Ashoka Plant Overview

• Botanical Name: Saraca asoca

• Common Names: Ashoka tree, Sita Ashoka, Asogam (in Tamil)

• Family: Fabaceae

• Origin: Indian Subcontinent

🌼 Key Features

• Leaves: Shiny, green, lance-shaped leaves in drooping clusters.

• Flowers: Fragrant, orange-yellow to red flowers that bloom in dense clusters.

• Height: Grows up to 6–9 meters (20–30 feet).

• Bloom Time: February to April (springtime in India).

🌳 Cultural and Religious Significance

• Considered sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism.

• Associated with Goddess Sita in the Ramayana (believed to have stayed under an Ashoka tree in Lanka).

• Planted near temples and spiritual centers for positive energy.

🌿 Medicinal Uses (Ayurveda)

• Bark and flowers are used for:

  • Treating gynecological disorders (e.g., heavy periods)

  • Relieving pain and inflammation

  • Acting as a uterine tonic

• Found in many Ayurvedic medicines like Ashokarishta.

🌱 Growing Conditions

• Sunlight: Partial to full sunlight

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil

• Watering: Moderate; does not tolerate waterlogging

• Propagation: Mostly through seeds or cuttings