Fragrant screw-pine
Pandanus odorifer, family Pandanaceae
A small tropical tree with sweet-scented flowers used for perfume and rituals
Fragrant screw-pine is a small, branched tree from Southeast Asia, the Andaman Islands, and parts of South Asia. Its stiff, bluish-green leaves and highly aromatic male flowers are valued for their scent, especially in making kewra water. The plant grows near water and is used in rituals and for its fragrance.
- The male flowers are distilled to make kewra water for perfume and rituals.
- It grows wild in Southeast Asia, the Andaman Islands, and parts of South Asia.
- The plant is never used in Shiva worship due to a Hindu myth.
- In Okinawa, it is part of Bon festival offerings.
- Leaves are long, spiny, and bluish-green, with a strong sweet scent.
What does Fragrant screw-pine look like?
Fragrant screw-pine is a small tree, usually reaching about 4 meters tall. Its trunk is flexible and supported by visible roots at the base. The leaves are long, sword-shaped, and have a tough, leathery feel with spines along the edges. They cluster at the tips of branches in rosettes and are bluish-green in color. The male flowers, which appear in summer, are highly fragrant and white, giving off a sweet scent that is often compared to roses but with a fruitier note.
Where does Fragrant screw-pine come from?
This plant is native to Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands. It also grows in the Philippines, southern India, Bangladesh, and parts of Burma. In Japan, it is found on the islands of Okinawa and nearby regions. The tree is commonly found in areas with high rainfall or near streams. It has spread to Yemen, where it grows mainly in the western foothills, likely introduced from India. The plant has a long history of use in both local customs and perfumery.
When and how Fragrant screw-pine blooms
Fragrant screw-pine can be grown from seeds or more often from young shoots that sprout near the trunk. These offshoots are cut and planted in sandy soil at warm temperatures. The plant grows slowly at first and needs plenty of water, especially in the summer. Its care is similar to that of palm trees. The male flowers are harvested for their scent and are often wrapped in leaves for sale.
How Fragrant screw-pine is used
The main use of this plant is for its aromatic male flowers, which are distilled to produce kewra water and oil. These are used in perfumes and sometimes in cooking. In India, the flowers are not offered to Shiva due to a mythological curse, but they are used for other rituals. In Japan’s Okinawa region, parts of the plant are used as offerings during the Bon festival. The shoots can be eaten after blanching, though they are naturally very astringent.
Kinds of Fragrant screw-pine
The plant is known by many names in different languages, such as kaithai in Tamil, mogali in Telugu, and adan in Japanese. Only male plants are found in some regions like Yemen, where they are valued for their flowers. Local traditions and uses vary, with some areas focusing on perfumery and others on ritual or culinary uses.
What Fragrant screw-pine means
Fragrant screw-pine holds a special place in Hindu mythology, where its flowers are never used for Shiva worship due to an ancient story. In Japan, the plant is part of Bon festival customs. Its scent is highly prized, and the distilled kewra water is a common ingredient in perfumes and rituals. The plant is also mentioned in early Indian literature.
Traditions that use it
Questions people ask about Fragrant screw-pine
Where does fragrant screw-pine come from?
It is native to Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands, and also grows in the Philippines, southern India, Bangladesh, and parts of Burma. It has been introduced to places like Yemen and Japan's Okinawa region.
What are the main uses of this plant?
Its male flowers are distilled to make kewra water and oil, used in perfumes and rituals. The plant also has a role in festivals and, after special preparation, its shoots can be eaten.
What does the plant look like?
It is a small tree with a flexible trunk, supported by strong roots. The leaves are long, tough, and spiny, forming rosettes at the ends of branches. The male flowers are white and very fragrant.
Why is it not used in Shiva worship?
According to Hindu mythology, the flower was cursed by Shiva and is never offered to him in rituals.
How is it used in Japanese culture?
In Okinawa and nearby islands, parts of the plant are used as offerings during the Bon festival, a time for honoring ancestors.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Pandanus odorifer on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pandanus odorifer", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). 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.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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