Sandal Wood Red, Chandan Red - 0.5 kg Seeds

Red Sandalwood or Red Sanders, Chandan Red (Pterocarpus santalinus), is a slow-growing small deciduous tree treasured for its deep blood-red, fragrance-free heartwood, which is among the most precious timbers in the world. It has dark corky bark, trifoliate leaves and small yellow flowers.

Endemic to the dry, rocky hills of the southern Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh, it is a high-value, protected species used for fine carving, musical instruments, dye and in traditional medicine and rituals. Because wild stocks are heavily exploited and trade is regulated, plantation raising of this tree is strongly encouraged for both conservation and income.

• Family: Fabaceae
• Native region: southern Eastern Ghats, peninsular India
• Mature height: 8-11 m
• Growth rate: slow

Seeds are enclosed in winged woody pods; sow the whole pod or the extracted seed after soaking in water for 24-48 hours to improve uptake. Sow about 2 cm deep in sandy, free-draining soil in polybags kept warm; germination is slow and irregular, typically 21-30 days. Transplant the seedlings carefully once 20-25 cm tall into a sunny, well-drained site.