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🇮🇳 The flowers of India

236 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 4Kashmir 4Kerala 4Sikkim 4Tamil Nadu 4Andhra Pradesh 3Bengaluru 3Jammu and Kashmir 3Jharkhand 3Kannauj 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
PeachPrunus persica A flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruit 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree TulipTulipa Spring-blooming bulbs with showy, cup-shaped flowers in many colours 🇳🇱 Netherlands and 7 more · Wildflower RapeseedBrassica napus A yellow-flowered crop grown for its oil-rich seeds and protein meal 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Rhododendron A vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many colours 🇳🇵 Nepal and 4 more · Wildflower Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia A tall, fragrant-flowered tree native to eastern North America 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Flowering tree Camellia Evergreen shrubs and trees with showy blooms, best known for tea and garden flowers 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Garden flower LantanaLantana camara A colourful shrub with clusters of small, changing flowers 🇧🇷 Brazil and 9 more · Flowering shrub Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris A bright yellow wildflower of marshes and wet woodlands in cool climates 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Royal poincianaDelonix regia A tropical tree with bright red-orange flowers and fern-like leaves 🇲🇬 Madagascar and 8 more · Flowering tree Campbell's MagnoliaMagnolia campbellii A Himalayan tree with large pink or white flowers blooming before the leaves 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering tree Black-eyed Susan vineThunbergia alata A fast-growing climbing plant with bright flowers and a dark centre 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower Pinwheel flowerTabernaemontana divaricata A fragrant white-flowered shrub native to South and Southeast Asia 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 2 more · Flowering shrub Meconopsis grandis A blue-flowered poppy from the Himalayas grown for its striking blooms 🇧🇹 Bhutan and 3 more · Wildflower 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 Multi-flowered AeridesAerides multiflora A fragrant orchid with many waxy flowers hanging in long sprays 🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 6 more · Wildflower 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 Scarlet jungleflameIxora coccinea A dense evergreen shrub with year-round scarlet flower clusters 🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Flowering shrub Place Government Rose Garden A hillside rose garden in Ooty with thousands of rose varieties Ooty, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden Decoration Pūjā in Buddhism𑀧𑀽𑀚𑀸 A ritual offering and devotional act in Buddhist practice 🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Offering or rite Place Mehtab Bagh A Mughal riverside garden facing the Taj Mahal in Agra Agra, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden Iris tectorum鸢尾 A blue or white iris once grown on rooftops in China and Japan 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower Iris lactea白花马蔺 A hardy wild iris with pale blue to violet blooms from central Asia 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower Crown flowerCalotropis gigantea A tall shrub with waxy white or lavender flowers and milky sap 🇮🇳 India and 8 more · Flowering shrub Kashmir IrisIris kashmiriana A fragrant iris from the western Himalaya, often planted on graves in Kashmir 🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Wildflower Yellow Himalayan fritillaryFritillaria cirrhosa A rare Himalayan lily with bell-shaped, checkered flowers and prized medicinal bulbs 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower BroomCytisus scoparius A yellow-flowered shrub found wild and grown in gardens, now invasive in many regions 🇮🇪 Ireland and 6 more · Flowering shrub Bayur treePterospermum acerifolium A tall Southeast Asian tree with large fragrant white flowers and dinner-plate leaves 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 2 more · Flowering tree Orange jasmineMurraya paniculata A fragrant shrub or small tree with white flowers and orange-red berries 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Spanish cherryMimusops elengi A fragrant evergreen tree with cream flowers and edible fruit 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Flowering tree Beach naupakaScaevola taccada A salt-tolerant shrub with fan-shaped white flowers on tropical beaches 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Bengal trumpetThunbergia grandiflora A climbing vine with large blue-violet trumpet flowers from Southeast Asia 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Climber Arabian jasmineJasminum sambac A small white jasmine with a strong, sweet scent, treasured in Asia for garlands and ceremonies 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering shrub Place Lalbagh Botanical Garden Historic botanical garden and flower show venue in Bengaluru, India Bengaluru, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden, Jan to Aug Decoration Kolamகோலம் South Indian geometric floor art made with rice flour or powder at home entrances 🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Carpet or floor pattern Place Zakir Husain Rose Garden A vast rose garden and festival site in Chandigarh, India Chandigarh, 🇮🇳 India · Flower garden, Jan to Dec Decoration Gudi Padwa The spring new year festival of Maharashtra, marked by flower-adorned gudis and rangoli 🇮🇳 India · Custom Decoration Ugadiఉగాది / ಯುಗಾದಿ South Indian New Year marked by flowers, rangoli, and mango leaf decorations 🇮🇳 India and 2 more · Custom, Mar to Apr Decoration Vishuവിഷു Malayali New Year marked by auspicious flowers, food, and family customs 🇮🇳 India · Custom, April Crown of thornsEuphorbia milii A spiny flowering shrub with red, pink, or white bracts, native to Madagascar 🇲🇬 Madagascar and 5 more · Wildflower Decoration Vesak The Buddhist festival marking the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 7 more · Custom, Apr to Jun Decoration Buddha's Birthday佛诞 A festival marking the birth of Gautama Buddha, celebrated across Asia in spring 🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Custom, Apr to May Decoration Palm Sunday Christian festival with palms or local branches marking Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem 🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Custom Cleome houtteana Tall annual with pink, purple, or white flowers and long, whisker-like stamens 🇦🇷 Argentina and 5 more · Garden flower Ixora Tropical evergreen shrubs with clusters of small, bright flowers 🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Garden flower Dutchman's pipe cactusEpiphyllum oxypetalum A night-blooming cactus with large, fragrant white flowers 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Foxtail orchidRhynchostylis retusa A long, hanging orchid with many pink-spotted white blooms 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Wildflower Noble dendrobiumDendrobium nobile A fragrant orchid with waxy blooms from the Himalayas and southern China 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Orchid
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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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