Tag: native flowers

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blog Native Plants of India

Son Champa: A perfume that spreads joy

Magnolia champaca aka Son Champa or Son Chafa is a native tree of India, and is found in abundance throughout the country.

It is popularly known as the joy perfume tree in English due to its strong aroma and attractive yellow petals, which is a key ingredient in perfumery.

The flowering season usually starts from May and stays until December. From a large, evergreen tree to a bonsai shrub, Son Champa is one of the most fragrant and aesthetic flowers indigenous to India.

It holds immense ornamental, medicinal and religious values. From anti-cancer to antimicrobial, antioxidant properties, Son Champa is an all-rounder plant to ensure one’s wellbeing. In Indian scriptures, Son Champa is revered as a sacred and divine flower. From Lord Vishnu to Lord Krishna, son champa finds it way in almost all mythological stories in India.

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blog Native Plants of India

Tarwar: The miracle flower

Tarwar – The miracle flower
Tarwar (Senna auriculata) is a miracle plant. It is popularly known as Avartaki, Avarampoo, Tanner’s Cassia. Bright yellow flowers, medicinal values, and an evergreen foliage, defines this humble plant
Found widely growing in the dry zones of peninsular India as far as the northern parts of Rajasthan, Tarwar is an extremely hardy plant. It can survive the harshest weather conditions.
Grown as a hedge plant, it is typically found along roadsides and various other open degraded habitats and in scrub forests, usually on stony, dry or sandy soils.
Tarwar is widely used a a household medicinal plant from being an antiseptic to treating skin disorders. In Ayurveda, the root of this plant is used in a decoction for fevers, diabetes, diseases of the urinary system and constipation.
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Flower of the month – July – Kaner

Kaner
Oleanders or kaner are one the most talked about flowers – for good and bad reasons both.

Kaner or karavira (Nerium indicum) as its popularly known in India, holds a special place in Ayurvedic medicine and Hindu religion. Strong bushy structure, colourful flowers and deep green leaves make it one of the most favourite ornamental plants in landscaping throughout the country.

It is a paradox plant. On one hand it is considered to be highly toxic for humans, pets, birds, etc. On the other hand, this indigenous, hardy plant of India is loaded with healing properties too. Almost all parts of the flower from its roots, barks, leaves have rich medicinal quotient. From skin disorders to treating life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes, etc, Kaner is nothing less than a miracle herb.

As per Vastu Shastra, the white kaner flower is considered to bring wealth and prosperity as its associated with Goddess Lakshmi. On important festivals, kaner is offered to Gods for eternal health and happiness.
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blog Native Plants of India

Flower of the month – Lotus – June

Lotus

Popularly known as the god’s own flower, Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) marks the onset of Jyeshtha ritu in India. From its beautiful pink, white petals to its stems and roots, the lotus is considered to be one of the most important flowers in the country.

This delicate flower has touched several walks of life from architecture to textile, botanicals to recipes. Even in this century, lotus continues to inspire design in every aspect.

It also symbolizes various aspects for different cultures. In ancient Egypt, it was considered to be a symbol of sun, rebirth and creation because of its unusual behaviour which marks the beginning and the end of the day.

For Asian communities, it continues to a symbol of wealth, prosperity, purity and fertility. Its unique traits of submerging every night into river water and miraculously re-blooming the next morning, sparklingly clean is a symbol of hope to many.
Its stems known as Kamal Kadki in Hindi or Lotus Roots in English is used to prepare several delicacies in Asian cuisine.