Terminalia arjunaArjuna Tree

The Terminalia arjuna, commonly known as the Arjuna Tree, is a large buttressed tree of the Indian subcontinent with smooth, pale grey-white bark that flakes in broad plates. It carries a wide, spreading crown of leathery oblong leaves on drooping branches, with small cream flower spikes in spring and woody five-winged fruit.

It is a fast, large-scale shade tree for deep soils with access to water, and the pale trunk gives it a strong presence in avenue and park planting. It is widely used in South Asian and Gulf civic landscapes where the site can carry a tree of this size.

Specifications

• Height18 to 25 metres
• Width12 to 18 metres
• Native toIndia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar
• FoliageLeathery oblong leaves in dark green with pale undersides, held on drooping branchlets; briefly deciduous in the dry season
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, moist, well-drained alluvial or loamy soils; tolerates seasonal wetness better than most large shade trees
• LightFull sun
• WaterModerate to high; performs best on deep soils with reliable water and is only moderately drought-tolerant
• ClimateThrives in tropical and subtropical regions and tolerates high summer heat where water is available

Additional Features

• FormMassive buttressed base with a wide, high, spreading crown suited to large open spaces
• BarkSmooth pale grey-white bark flaking in broad plates, giving a strong pale trunk in avenue planting
• FlowersShort spikes of small cream flowers in spring, lightly scented
• UsesLarge avenue and boulevard planting, deep broad park and campus shade, riverside and lake edge planting
• SpacingPlant 12 to 18 metres apart; this is not a tree for a narrow verge
• Low MaintenanceFormative pruning to a clear stem; allow generous soil volume for the buttressed root plate
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust with no significant recurring pest or disease problems
• Cultural SignificanceLong established in South Asian medicine and culture, and widely planted as a sacred and civic tree

The Arjuna Tree is a large-scale shade and avenue tree for sites with the soil depth and the water to support it.