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🇮🇳 The flowers of India

234 pages from India: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 60 cities and regions.

India’s flowering plants are among the most varied on Earth, with over 18,000 species thriving across its many climates. From Himalayan conifers to tropical rainforests and dry plains, each region supports its own mix of wildflowers and trees. India is also known for its wealth of medicinal plants and high number of unique native species.

  • India has over 18,000 species of flowering plants.
  • Eight main floristic regions divide the country’s plant life.
  • More than 3,000 species are used in traditional medicine.
  • The Andaman Islands are known for mangrove forests.
  • About 1,336 plant species are threatened by habitat loss.

The plant life of India

India’s plant life is shaped by its wide range of climates, from tropical to alpine. The country supports more than 18,000 species of flowering plants, making up a significant share of the world’s total. Forests cover about a fifth of the land, with broad-leaved deciduous trees like sal and teak common in many areas. Conifers such as pine and deodar grow in the high northern mountains, while tropical rainforests are found in the Andaman Islands, the Western Ghats, and the northeast. Each region’s unique conditions have led to a remarkable diversity of flowers and trees.

From region to region in India

The flora shifts dramatically from one part of India to another. The Himalayas are home to conifers and alpine flowers, while Assam and the northeast have evergreen forests. The Indus plain is drier, supporting tough, drought-resistant plants. Central and southern India feature dry forests dominated by teak, and the Deccan and western Gangetic plain have thorny vegetation. The Andaman Islands are noted for their mangroves and rainforests, and the Malabar region supports both lush woods and plantations.

Flowers to know in India

India is rich in endemic flowering plants, with many species found nowhere else. Sal and teak are two of the most widespread and important trees. Pines, junipers, and deodars are typical in the Himalayas. The country also has a long tradition of using over 3,000 plant species for medicine, and more than 800 are used by tribal communities. The Andaman Islands stand out for their unique mangrove species.

How flowers are used in India

Plants have been central to Indian life for centuries, especially as sources of traditional medicine. Thousands of species are officially recognized for their medicinal value, and many are still used by tribal groups. Plantation crops are important in regions like Malabar. Ethnobotanical research continues to document how people use native flowers and plants.

Threats and protection in India

Habitat loss threatens over 1,300 plant species in India, with about 20 possibly extinct. Conservation efforts include the publication of a Red Data Book by the Botanical Survey of India, which lists endangered plants. Forest cover remains below the national target, and protecting rare and endemic species is an ongoing concern.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of India", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Flower experiences in India

All 24
🇮🇳 Mumbai · All yearDadar flower market at dawnMumbai's wholesale flower market beside Dadar station, at its busiest before the city has had breakfast. 🇮🇳 Kolkata · All yearMullick Ghat flower market under Howrah BridgeA crowded riverside flower market on the Hooghly, in the shadow of Howrah Bridge. 🇮🇳 Bengaluru · All yearKR Market flower hallBengaluru's old city market, where the flower floor is best seen from the stairs above. 🇮🇳 Chennai · All yearKoyambedu wholesale flower marketThe flower block of Chennai's vast Koyambedu wholesale complex, busiest before sunrise. 🇮🇳 Madurai · All yearMadurai malli at the Mattuthavani flower marketThe wholesale market that sets the daily price of Madurai malli, the jasmine the city is famous for. 🇮🇳 Delhi · All yearGhazipur phool mandiDelhi's wholesale flower market in the east of the city, where the capital's bouquets and garlands begin.

Cities and regions of India

Srinagar 7West Bengal 6Delhi 5Agra 4Assam 4Himachal Pradesh 4Kerala 4Sikkim 4Tamil Nadu 4Andhra Pradesh 3Bengaluru 3Jammu and Kashmir 3Jharkhand 3Kannauj 3Kashmir 3Maharashtra 3Telangana 3Tripura 3Uttarakhand 3Bengal 2Bihar 2Chandigarh 2Himalayas 2Howrah 2Idukki 2Khasi hills 2Kochi 2Kolkata 2Ladakh 2Lucknow 2Madhya Pradesh 2Punjab 2Rajasthan 2Shillong 2Thiruvananthapuram 2Thrikkakara 2Uttar Pradesh 2Achabal 1Anantnag district 1Arunachal Pradesh 1Aurangabad 1Badrinath 1Banavasi 1Baran 1Bhubaneswar 1Bijapur 1Bodh Gaya 1Brahmapur 1Calcutta 1Chhatrapur 1Chhattisgarh 1Chikkamagaluru 1Coonoor 1Daman 1Darbhanga 1Darjeeling 1Ganjam 1Goa 1Gopalpur-on-Sea 1Hadoti 1
ShowFlowersDecorationsPlaces
ColourRedPinkOrangeYellowWhiteCreamBluePurpleGreenMaroonMany-coloured
In flowerSpringSummerMonsoonAutumnWinter
Philippine violetBarleria cristata A small shrub with violet, pink, or white funnel-shaped flowers 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Flowering shrub Hubei AnemoneEriocapitella hupehensis A late-summer flowering perennial with purple, pink or white blooms 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower Plumeria alba A small tree with white, fragrant flowers and yellow centers 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico and 6 more · Flowering tree Star-of-BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatum A white, star-shaped spring flower that opens late in the day 🇫🇷 France and 7 more · Wildflower Hepatica A woodland perennial with three-lobed leaves and early spring flowers 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Combretum A large group of tropical trees and shrubs called bushwillows 🇿🇦 South Africa and 5 more · Flowering tree Smithia A genus of legume herbs with pink or purple pea-like flowers 🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Herb or useful flower Silver sennaSenna artemisioides A yellow-flowered shrub native to dry regions of Australia 🇦🇺 Australia and 5 more · Wildflower Place Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute A major botanical garden and research centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden Decoration rose oil Essential oil distilled from rose petals, prized in perfume and tradition 🇧🇬 Bulgaria and 4 more · Flower craft Place Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden Asia’s largest tulip garden on the slopes above Dal Lake in Srinagar Srinagar, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden, Mar to Apr Decoration Chintzछींट Indian floral-printed cotton fabric with a glossy or painted finish 🇮🇳 India and 2 more · Art or design Decoration Ashtamangalaअष्टमङ्गल A sacred set of eight auspicious symbols in Indian religions 🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Art or design Decoration Rangoliरंगोली Indian floor art made with coloured powders, rice, or petals for festivals and daily welcome 🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Carpet or floor pattern Woodfordia fruticosadhavdi A flowering shrub found from Africa to South and Southeast Asia 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 7 more · Wildflower Blue orchidVanda coerulea A rare orchid with long-lasting bluish purple flowers from Northeast India and Yunnan 🇮🇳 India and 2 more · Orchid Place Achabal Gardens A historic Mughal garden with springs and a waterfall in Achabal, Jammu and Kashmir Achabal, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden Pinwheel flowerTabernaemontana divaricata A fragrant white-flowered shrub native to South and Southeast Asia 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 2 more · Flowering shrub Star jasmineJasminum multiflorum A white, scentless jasmine used in Indian weddings and worship 🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Wildflower Place Yadavindra Gardens A 17th-century Mughal garden with seven terraces in Pinjore, Haryana Panchkula, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden, Apr to Dec Decoration Attarअत्तर, عطر Traditional natural perfume oil distilled from flowers, herbs, and spices 🇮🇳 India and 2 more · Flower craft Black-eyed Susan vineThunbergia alata A fast-growing climbing plant with bright flowers and a dark centre 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower Place Chashme Shahi A Mughal garden built around a spring in Srinagar, Kashmir Srinagar, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden, Mar to Nov Love-lies-bleedingAmaranthus caudatus Tall Andean plant with long, drooping red or white flower clusters 🇵🇪 Peru and 8 more · Wildflower Place Government Rose Garden A hillside rose garden in Ooty with thousands of rose varieties Ooty, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden Place Shalimar Bagh A Mughal-era garden of terraces, fountains and chinar trees by Dal Lake, Srinagar Srinagar, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden Decoration International Women's Day A global day on 8 March celebrating women’s rights and equality 🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Custom, March Decoration Pohela Boishakhপহেলা বৈশাখ Bengali New Year marked by processions, fairs, and flower-adorned gatherings 🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 1 more · Custom, April Place Agri-Horticultural Society of India Kolkata’s historic garden and centre for plant lovers Kolkata, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden Aztec marigoldTagetes erecta The golden-yellow flower of Mexican altars and Day of the Dead offerings 🇲🇽 Mexico and 6 more · Wildflower Flame lilyGloriosa superba A striking red and yellow climbing flower, national emblem of Zimbabwe and Tamil Nadu 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe and 9 more · Wildflower Place Nishat Bagh A grand terraced Mughal garden on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar Srinagar, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden Decoration Pichhwai Large painted cloths showing Krishna, hung in temples for worship and festivals 🇮🇳 India · Art or design Indian coral treeErythrina variegata A thorny tree with scarlet flowers, grown across Asia and the Pacific 🇧🇷 Brazil and 7 more · Flowering tree Place Sim's Park, Coonoor A century-old botanical garden in the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu Coonoor, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden, May Decoration Pūjā in Buddhism𑀧𑀽𑀚𑀸 A ritual offering and devotional act in Buddhist practice 🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Offering or rite Campbell's MagnoliaMagnolia campbellii A Himalayan tree with large pink or white flowers blooming before the leaves 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering tree SaffronCrocus sativus The crimson threads of an autumn crocus, dried for colour, flavour and scent 🇮🇷 Iran and 6 more · Bulb flower Decoration May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary Month-long Catholic customs honouring Mary with flowers, altars, and processions 🇮🇹 Italy and 7 more · Custom, May Decoration Tiharतिहार Nepal’s five-day festival of lights, flowers, animals, and sibling bonds 🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 more · Custom, Oct to Nov Royal poincianaDelonix regia A tropical tree with bright red-orange flowers and fern-like leaves 🇲🇬 Madagascar and 8 more · Flowering tree Decoration Charbaghچهارباغ A four-part Persian and Mughal garden divided by water or paths 🇮🇷 Iran and 3 more · Garden style Datura innoxia A white-flowered night-blooming plant with spiny fruit and toxic parts 🇨🇺 Cuba and 4 more · Wildflower Pigeon orchidDendrobium crumenatum A white, fragrant orchid that blooms all at once after rain 🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Wildflower Coelogyne A group of orchids with showy flowers from Asia and the Pacific 🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Wildflower Saraca indica Evergreen tree with orange to red flower clusters from Southeast Asia 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 3 more · Flowering tree Place Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden A large botanical garden in Srinagar with thousands of ornamental plants Srinagar, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden White Himalayan lilyLilium polyphyllum A rare white or pink lily from the high Himalayas, used in temple offerings 🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Wildflower
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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