Mesua ferrea, known as Nagkesar or Indian Rose Chestnut, is a handsome evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is famous for its ornamental young foliage, which emerges in brilliant shades of red, pink and bronze before maturing to deep glossy green, and for its heavily fragrant white flowers with a dense golden centre of stamens.
The tree is slow-growing but extremely long-lived, with very hard, dense heartwood that gives it the alternate name Ironwood. In India it carries deep cultural and religious significance and the dried flowers and stamens are widely used in Ayurveda. It is well suited to warm, humid regions of India and makes a fine avenue, temple-garden or large-garden specimen.
Specifications
| Family |
Calophyllaceae |
| Native region |
Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia |
| Mature height |
Typically 15-30 m in the open ground |
| Mature spread |
6-12 m canopy spread |
| Growth rate |
Slow |
| Foliage |
Evergreen; new leaves flush red-pink to bronze, maturing to glossy dark green, narrow lance-shaped |
| Flower colour |
White petals with a prominent golden-yellow centre of stamens |
| Flower season |
Mainly summer to early monsoon (roughly March-June in most of India) |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and subtropical humid regions |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun to partial shade; young plants tolerate light shade, mature trees prefer full sun |
| Watering |
Regular watering to keep soil moist while young; established trees are moderately drought-tolerant but prefer consistent moisture |
| Soil / mix |
Deep, fertile, well-drained loam rich in organic matter; tolerates slightly acidic soils, dislikes waterlogging |
| Temperature |
Thrives in 20-35 C; sensitive to frost and prolonged cold |
| Humidity |
Prefers moderate to high humidity typical of tropical India |
| Fertilizer |
Apply well-rotted compost or organic manure annually; a balanced NPK feed in the growing season aids establishment |
| Pruning |
Minimal pruning needed; remove dead, damaged or crossing branches to shape the canopy when young |
| Repotting |
Best grown in ground; if container-grown when young, pot up every 1-2 years before transplanting out |
| Propagation |
Mainly from fresh seed, which loses viability quickly; semi-hardwood cuttings and layering are possible but slow |
| Pests & problems |
Generally hardy; occasional leaf-eating caterpillars, scale or mealybugs; root rot in waterlogged soil |
| Difficulty |
Moderate |
Uses
<p>Nagkesar is a multipurpose tree with ornamental, cultural and medicinal value in India.</p><ul><li>Ornamental avenue, temple-garden and large-garden specimen, prized for its colourful red new foliage and fragrant flowers</li><li>Dried flowers and stamens are an important Ayurvedic drug used in traditional formulations</li><li>Flowers are used in religious offerings and to scent and stuff pillows and cushions</li><li>The extremely hard, durable Ironwood timber is used for heavy construction, beams and railway sleepers</li><li>Seed oil has traditional medicinal and lamp-oil uses</li></ul>
Growing tips
<p>Plant young Nagkesar at the start of the monsoon (June-July) so seedlings establish with natural rainfall.</p><p>Choose a deep, fertile, well-drained spot with shelter from cold winds in North India, as the tree dislikes frost. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first few years and mulch with organic matter to protect surface roots.</p><p>Sow fresh seed immediately as it loses viability fast. Be patient: this is a slow grower that rewards over decades, so give it permanent space away from buildings and overhead lines.</p>
