Woody > Dalbergia > Dalbergia sissoo > Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia sissoo
Shisham, Sissoo, Indian Rosewood
Origin: Native to India, and Pakistan.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This is a very useful tree, mainly for timber, which can grow as a commercial plant. It can easily grow in all types of soil, and goats, buffalo, and cows do not eat its leaves. Its dense leaves produce a lot of oxygen and are very suitable for the environment.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Fabaceae |
| Genus |
| Dalbergia |
| Species |
| sissoo |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Greater than 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1a - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-4) - 45 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 24 - 113 |
| Height |
| 25 - 30 m |
| Spread |
| 11 - 18 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A medium to large deciduous tree renowned for its strong, dense wood. It is used to build musical instruments, furniture, and flooring. It has smooth, dark green compound leaves that have many leaflets and rough, brown to dark brown coloured bark. There are 27 species of the genus found in India, with 15 of them being native to the Indian subcontinent. It is well known as a significant species of multipurpose tree. This species has been placed on the IUCN red list. |
| Landscape |
| This tree can be used in the street without a sidewalk, along roadsides, on a big parking lot island, and on big lawns. |
| Cultivation |
| Sissoo trees grow well in nearly any well-drained soil, but neutral to slightly alkaline soil and moist soil rich in organic matter are best for their growth and require either full sun or light shade. In order to form a thick canopy, they require regular, deep watering. |
| Shape |
| Large tree with an oval crown and crooked trunk. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| A thin, flat, brown pod with one to four seeds follows the little, highly scented, yellowish or white blooms. The tree has a cylindrical, crooked trunk with a thin, brown to dark brown colour and rough bark. Its branches are smooth with multiple small leaflets, and it has a dark green colour. |
| Pests |
| No notable pests or diseases. |
| Habitat |
| It grows in both natural and planted forests in tropical and subtropical regions. It is primarily found at the edges of woods along rivers and streams, canopy gaps, hammocks, agricultural areas, and roadside locations. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is a grey, thin, rough, and scaly-textured layer that peels off in long, thin strips. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The leaf bud is a small, slender, and pointed structure, exhibiting a pale green to reddish-brown coloration and being 0.5 to 1 inch in size. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaf is compound, broad ovate, and arranged alternately. It features acuminate tips, a smooth (glabrescent) surface, and a dark green colour on the upper side, while the underside is pale green. Typically, each leaf consists of 3 to 7 leaflets, each with a pointed tip, and the entire leaf has a diameter ranging from 2 to 4 inches. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers are small, displaying hues ranging from pale white to dull yellow colour, and arranged in dense clusters. The flowers have a length of 5 to 8 mm, and the racemes are 1 to 1.5 inches long with small auxiliary panicles. |
| Fruit Description |
| Thin, elongated, woody, flat, narrowed at the base, green to light brown, kidney-shaped, 1.5 to 2.8 inches in length and 8 to 13 mm in width, and contains 1 to 4 seeds with a size of 6 to 8 mm in length and 4 to 5 mm in width. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth texture of leaves and a scaly and rough texture of bark. |
| Propagation |
| The tree can be propagated through several effective methods, ensuring successful and robust growth. One of the most reliable approaches is through seed propagation. The seeds, obtained from mature pods, should be sown in well-draining soil within the temperature range of 20 to 30 °C, preferably a mixture of sand and compost, and kept consistently moist until germination occurs. Another successful method is stem cutting propagation. Healthy stems, approximately 15 to 20 cm in length, can be taken from a mature tree and planted in a suitable rooting medium. Adequate humidity and warmth will encourage the development of roots. Additionally, air layering, a technique where a section of the stem is induced to root while still attached to the parent plant, has shown positive results with Dalbergia sissoo. Regardless of the method chosen, providing optimal conditions, such as a warm and humid environment, is crucial for the successful propagation of this valuable timber species. |
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