{"product_id":"shami-tree-8-pot","title":"Shami Tree - 8\" Pot","description":"\u003cp\u003eProsopis cineraria, known as Shami or Khejri, is a small to medium thorny tree native to the arid and semi-arid regions of India, especially the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Revered in Hindu tradition and worshipped during Dussehra, it is the state tree of Rajasthan and Telangana and one of the toughest trees for hot, dry climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has a deep tap-root that lets it survive extreme drought and poor sandy soils, fixing nitrogen to improve fertility around it. Its light, feathery foliage casts dappled shade without heavily competing with crops, which is why farmers retain it in fields across western India.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tree produces fragrant yellow flowers and long bean-like pods called 'sangri', a prized vegetable in Rajasthani cuisine. Slow-growing but extremely long-lived and low-maintenance, it is ideal for arid landscaping, agroforestry and religious plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFamily\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFabaceae (Leguminosae)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eNative region\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArid and semi-arid India (Thar Desert), and the drylands of South \u0026amp; West Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-10 m, occasionally up to 15 m\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature spread\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-9 m canopy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFoliage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous to semi-evergreen; fine bipinnate feathery green leaves\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower colour\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePale yellow to creamy white\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower season\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpring (March-May)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eClimate zone\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArid and semi-arid tropical; thrives in hot dry plains\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSunlight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun; needs bright direct sunlight all day and tolerates intense heat.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eWatering\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery low once established; water young plants occasionally. Mature trees are highly drought-tolerant and need almost no irrigation.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil \/ mix\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWell-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soils; tolerates poor, alkaline and mildly saline soils. Avoid waterlogging.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLoves heat; tolerates 0 to 48 degrees C. Best growth in hot dry conditions.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eHumidity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrefers low humidity; suited to dry climates and tolerates very arid air.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimal needs; being nitrogen-fixing it enriches its own soil. A little compost when young aids establishment.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePruning\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrune in winter to shape, remove deadwood and lift the canopy; traditionally lopped for fodder. Mind the sharp thorns.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eRepotting\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eResents root disturbance due to its deep tap-root; transplant only when young. Best planted directly in the ground.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePropagation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMainly by seed (scarify\/soak hard seed before sowing); can also be raised from root suckers.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePests \u0026amp; problems\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLargely pest-resistant; occasional defoliating caterpillars, beetles or scale. Generally trouble-free.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eUses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Sacred tree worshipped during Dussehra (Shami Puja); planted in temples and homes for religious significance.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Tender pods (\u0026amp;#039;sangri\u0026amp;#039;) and dried pods are a traditional Rajasthani vegetable, often cooked as \u0026amp;#039;ker sangri\u0026amp;#039;.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Excellent shade and avenue tree for hot, dry regions and desert landscaping.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Key agroforestry tree: fixes nitrogen, improves soil fertility and supports intercropping in arid farms.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Leaves (\u0026amp;#039;loong\u0026amp;#039;) are nutritious livestock fodder; wood is used for fuel and small timber.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Effective for sand-dune stabilisation, windbreaks and combating desertification.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ul\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Plant at the start of the monsoon (June-July) so seedlings establish with natural rainfall before the dry season. Choose an open, sunny, well-drained spot.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Water young plants every few days for the first year to build the deep tap-root, then taper off; mature trees rarely need watering. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged sites, which cause root rot.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Protect saplings from grazing animals with a guard. Do major pruning in winter when the tree is leafless. Once established it needs almost no care and thrives through the harshest Indian summers.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy is the Shami tree considered sacred in India?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Shami (Khejri) is worshipped during Dussehra and associated with Lord Shani and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. It is planted at homes and temples for prosperity and protection, and is the state tree of Rajasthan and Telangana.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow much water does a Shami tree need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery little. Water young plants occasionally during their first year to establish the deep tap-root; after that mature trees are highly drought-tolerant and survive on natural rainfall, needing almost no irrigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow a Shami tree in a hot, dry climate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes - it is one of the best trees for hot, arid regions. It thrives in full sun, sandy and poor soils, tolerates temperatures up to 48 degrees C, and is ideal for desert landscaping, shade and agroforestry.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vedicflora","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51049492480246,"sku":"PLT-SHAMITREE-P08-NA","price":80.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0805\/4980\/6326\/files\/shami-plant_daf812f6-9643-4693-baec-100049cad049.jpg?v=1782712157","url":"https:\/\/vedicflora.com\/products\/shami-tree-8-pot","provider":"vedicflora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}