Shami Patra, Tree of Dhanishta Nakshatra – Plant

Description

Prosopis cineraria, known as Jammi, Shami, Kandi, Khejri Tree, Jand, or Ghaf, is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to arid portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is an established introduced species in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.

It is the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, where it is known as Ghaf. Through the Give a Ghaf campaign its citizens are urged to plant it in their gardens to combat desertification and to preserve their country’s heritage. The desert village of Nazwa in the UAE is home to the Al Ghaf Conservation Reserve.

Planting and care

This plant is propagated through seeds and root suckers. Seed germinates best if the hard seed coat is softened first to allow the ingress of water. Then sow the seeds in the porous potting mix. Monsoon season is best for sowing and planting this plant.

Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water: Moderately
Temperature: 20 to 32 degrees C
Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer