Butea Monosperma, Palash - 0.5 kg Seeds

Palash or Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma) is a medium-sized deciduous tree famous for the blaze of orange-scarlet, claw-shaped flowers it bears on bare branches in late winter and spring. It has thick, three-lobed leathery leaves and a crooked trunk, and is one of the most culturally significant trees of India, its blooms traditionally used to make natural Holi colour (tesu).

Native to India and widespread through the dry plains, scrub forests and open grasslands of the country, it tolerates poor, dry and even waterlogged soils. The tree is a key host for the lac insect, its flowers and bark are used in traditional medicine and dyeing, and it provides fodder, fuelwood and excellent ornamental and reclamation value on degraded land.

• Family: Fabaceae (Faboideae)
• Native region: Indian subcontinent
• Mature height: 12-15 m
• Growth rate: Slow to moderate

Each flat pod holds a single papery seed; soak the seeds in water for about 24 hours before sowing to speed uptake. Sow about 2 cm deep in nursery bags of well-drained soil in late summer; germination takes roughly 1-3 weeks. Raise the seedlings on through one season and transplant carefully, as Palash resents root disturbance.