Shami Tree, Prosopis cineraria - Plant

Shami is highly revered among Hindus and worshipped as part of Dasara festival. This tree is a small moderate sized evergreen thorny tree, with slender branches armed with conical thorns and with light bluish-green foliage.
Prosopis cineraria is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Leaves are double compound. The leaflets are dark green and have a tiny point. The tree is evergreen or nearly so. It produces new flush leaves before summer. The flowers are small in size and yellow or creamy white in color, appear from March to May after the new flush of leaves. The pods are formed soon thereafter and grow rapidly in size attaining full size in about two months time.

Plant Specifications

• Plant Height: 12 inch (30 cm)
• Plant Spread: 3 inch (8 cm)

*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%

• Common Name: Khejri Tree, Jand, Shemi, Shami
• Maximum Reachable Height: Up to 15 ft
• Flower Colour: Yellow or creamy white
• Bloom Time: Year-round
• Difficulty Level: Easy to grow

Planting and care

It is well adapted to the arid conditions and stands well to the adverse vagaries of climate and browsing by animals. Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. Water the plant at the only growing season. Also, prepare the soil with fertilizers and plant feed before planting the tree.

Shami Tree 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
• Watering: Moderately
• Soil: Well-drained soil
• Temperature: 20 to 32 degrees C
• Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer

Shami Tree special feature
Shami plant considers a sacred tree.
Shami Tree uses

Medicinal Use

Prosopis Cineraria plant produces gum, which is obtained during May and June
The bark of the tree is dry, acrid, bitter with a sharp taste; cooling anthelmintic; tonic, cures leprosy, dysentery, bronchitis, asthma, leukoderma, hemorrhoids, and muscle tremors
The smoke of the leaves is good for eye troubles
Note: Please consult with the specialist first before using