White or Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album), known as Chandan, is a small evergreen tree native to southern India and long associated with Karnataka, where it is the state tree. It is a root hemiparasite: while it photosynthesises with its own leaves, it draws water and nutrients from neighbouring host plants through specialised root connections (haustoria), so it must be grown alongside suitable hosts.
The tree is prized not for its appearance but for its fragrant, oil-rich heartwood, which deepens in scent as the tree matures over 12-15 years or more. The heartwood and its distilled oil are used in attars, agarbatti (incense), soaps, cosmetics and Ayurvedic preparations, and the wood is carved into idols and ornaments. Because of overexploitation it is a protected species, and harvesting and trade are regulated under state laws.
It is a slow, long-term planting suited to gardens, farm boundaries and agroforestry plots in warm, well-drained locations across peninsular India.
Specifications
| Family |
Santalaceae |
| Native region |
Peninsular India (notably Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) and parts of Southeast Asia |
| Mature height |
4-9 m, occasionally up to 12-18 m in age |
| Mature spread |
3-5 m crown |
| Growth rate |
Slow |
| Foliage |
Evergreen, opposite, ovate-lanceolate glossy green leaves |
| Flower colour |
Small flowers, straw-yellow turning reddish-purple/brown |
| Flower season |
Mainly March-April and again around October-November |
| Climate zone |
Tropical to subtropical; suited to most of peninsular and central India |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun; needs plenty of direct light, especially once established |
| Watering |
Moderate; water young plants regularly but never waterlog. Drought-tolerant once established; avoid soggy soil which causes root rot. |
| Soil / mix |
Well-drained red ferruginous loam, sandy loam or gravelly soil; tolerates poor soils and prefers slightly alkaline to neutral pH. Good drainage is essential. |
| Temperature |
Thrives at roughly 12-35 C; tolerates Indian summer heat but young plants need protection from frost. |
| Humidity |
Adaptable; suits the moderate humidity of peninsular India. |
| Fertilizer |
Light feeding; apply well-rotted farmyard manure or compost. Avoid heavy nitrogen. Healthy host plants matter more than direct fertiliser. |
| Pruning |
Minimal; remove dead or damaged wood only. Do not heavily prune as the heartwood is the valued part. |
| Repotting |
If container-grown as a sapling, transplant to ground within 1-2 years; it must reach a host plant to thrive long term. |
| Propagation |
Mainly by seed (pre-treat/scarify for better germination); always grow with a host plant such as red gram (arhar), Casuarina or other leguminous hosts nearby. |
| Pests & problems |
Spike disease (a phytoplasma) is the most serious threat; also watch for sapsuckers and root rot in poorly drained soil. |
| Difficulty |
Difficult |
Uses
<p>Sandalwood is one of India's most valued aromatic trees, used for:</p><ul><li>Fragrant heartwood for carving idols, ornaments and beads.</li><li>Sandalwood oil (chandan tail) for perfumes, attars, soaps and cosmetics.</li><li>Agarbatti (incense) and dhoop for worship and rituals.</li><li>Ayurvedic and traditional skincare uses such as cooling chandan paste/face packs.</li><li>Long-term agroforestry and farm-boundary planting as a high-value timber crop.</li></ul>
Growing tips
<p>Plant saplings at the onset of the monsoon (June-July) so they establish with natural rainfall.</p><p>Always plant a host alongside: a primary host like red gram/pigeon pea (arhar) near the seedling and a long-term perennial host such as Casuarina or a leguminous tree within a couple of metres, as sandalwood depends on hosts for nutrients.</p><p>Choose a well-drained, sunny spot; avoid low-lying waterlogged ground. Protect young plants from grazing and frost. Be patient: useful heartwood takes 12-15+ years to form. Note that sandalwood is a regulated/protected species in India, so check your state's rules on growing, cutting and selling before planting commercially.</p>
