Mahua महुआ

🌱 About the plant

Central India’s most important livelihood tree — flowers, oil and shade.

Growing it

A tribal-livelihood tree; plant it where it can be harvested.

What it is for

Flowers for food and drink; seed oil; keystone forest tree.

🪴 How to grow

Sunlight

Full sun

Water

Weekly the first two years

Season

Jun–Jul

Grows in

Garden / ground

Mature size

15–20 m

First harvest

Flowers year eight

A tribal-livelihood tree; plant it where it can be harvested.

🌾 Traditional uses

Traditionally used — recorded as tradition, not as established effect. The two registers below are kept separate on purpose.

Traditional knowledge

Flowers for food and drink; seed oil; keystone forest tree.

Scientific evidence

This record has not yet assessed the research on these uses. Absence of an assessment here is not evidence either way.

Important: Traditional plant use does not replace professional medical advice. Do not treat a condition on the strength of this page — speak to a doctor.

🐝 Ecological value

🗺️ Where it grows in India