Adina Cordifolia, Haldu, Kadamba - 0.5 kg Seeds

Adina cordifolia (now also placed as Haldina cordifolia), the haldu or kadam-like haldu, is a large deciduous timber tree of India's moist and dry deciduous forests, distributed widely across the sub-Himalayan tract, central India and the Western Ghats. It has heart-shaped leaves and small, fragrant, golden-yellow flowers packed into round ball-like heads.

Its fine-grained, yellowish wood is a valued timber for turnery, carving, furniture, combs and toys, and the bark has traditional medicinal uses; the flowers are attractive to bees. The tree is also grown as an avenue and shade tree and is an important component of natural forest regeneration.

• Family: Rubiaceae
• Native region: Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia
• Mature height: 20-30 m
• Growth rate: moderate

The seeds are extremely tiny and need light to germinate, so do not bury them: surface-sow thinly onto a fine, moist, well-drained seed mix and press gently, without any pre-treatment. Keep the tray warm, shaded and consistently moist by misting; germination usually takes 14-21 days. Prick the delicate seedlings into poly bags once they can be handled and grow on before transplanting in the rains.