Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

A big, buttressed tree of riverbanks in India; its bark is the Ayurvedic heart herb, and the shade is generous.

Type: canopy tree · helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 80 ft tall, 50 ft wide
From: India
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: wildlife, pollinators, traditional use, Ayurvedic tradition.

Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.

The story

Arjuna is a tall riverside tree of India with a pale, smooth trunk and a bark that Ayurveda has long used as a heart tonic. It is a big tree for a big space: shade, wildlife and sacred groves.

Planting

Deep, moist soil and full sun in a frost-free place. It will not live outside in cold zones; sow fresh seed or buy a young tree in the tropics and subtropics.

Growing

Water young trees well through their first dry season and give them room: this tree gets 80 feet tall.

Harvest and use

Bark is stripped in small amounts from mature trees for dried decoctions; harvest sparingly or leave this to producers.

What to watch for

Frost when young.

Safety

Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.

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More helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home