Narra (Pterocarpus indicus): colours, meaning, where it grows and when it blooms

Narra is a large deciduous tree native to parts of Southeast Asia, northern Australasia, and islands in the western Pacific. Its yellow or orange-yellow flowers appear in clusters, and its wood is valued for furniture and carving. The tree is a national symbol in the Philippines and is also grown for shade and honey.

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Narra is the national tree of the Philippines.
Its wood is rose-scented and used for fine furniture and carving.
The tree produces clusters of yellow or orange-yellow flowers.
Narra helps enrich soil by fixing nitrogen.
Its leaves and flowers are used in traditional remedies and as food.

What does Narra look like?

Narra is a towering tree that can reach 30 to 40 meters, with a wide, dome-shaped crown and drooping branches. Its leaves are made up of several leaflets, and the tree produces clusters of yellow or orange-yellow flowers that have a mild fragrance. The fruit is a round, flat pod with a papery wing, helping seeds travel on the wind. Its wood is purplish, aromatic, and highly valued for its beauty and durability.

Where does Narra come from?

This tree grows wild in rainforests and seasonal forests across Southeast Asia, northern Australasia, and nearby Pacific islands. It is found in places like Cambodia, southern China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. Narra has been planted widely for its timber and as a shade tree. The name 'Amboyna' comes from Ambon, an island in Indonesia known for its burl wood.

When and how Narra blooms

Narra flowers from late winter through spring, especially between February and May in parts of Southeast Asia. It grows best in humid climates, often in rainforests, and can be started from seeds or large cuttings. The tree is easy to propagate and is often used in parks, roadsides, and gardens. Its wood is harvested for furniture, and its flowers and leaves are sometimes collected for food or traditional uses.

How Narra is used

People value narra for its strong, termite-resistant wood, which is used in furniture, carving, and musical instruments. The tree is also a source of honey and resin. In the Philippines, its leaves and flowers are eaten or used in folk remedies, and leaf infusions are used for washing hair. Narra is planted as an ornamental and shade tree in cities and parks, and it helps improve soil by fixing nitrogen.

Kinds of Narra

There are forms of narra with smooth or bristly fruit pods. The burl wood from both narra and a related species, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, is called 'Amboyna burl' and is prized for decorative work. Disease-resistant varieties have been developed, especially where the tree has faced problems with wilt disease.

What Narra means

Narra is the national tree of the Philippines and a provincial emblem in parts of Thailand. Its wood was once used in Europe to make a fluorescent diuretic called lignum nephriticum. Cutting narra trees is regulated in the Philippines due to its importance and threats to its wild populations. The tree is also planted for its beauty and shade in urban areas.

Questions people ask about Narra

Where does the narra tree come from?

Narra is native to Southeast Asia, northern Australasia, and islands in the western Pacific, growing wild in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

What does the narra flower look like?

The tree produces clusters of small, yellow or orange-yellow flowers with a light scent. These appear in panicles and bloom mainly from February to May in some regions.

What is narra wood used for?

Narra wood is valued for its strength, termite resistance, and rose-like scent. It is used for high-quality furniture, carving, musical instruments, and decorative veneers.

Is narra important in any country's culture?

Yes, narra is the national tree of the Philippines and is a provincial symbol in some parts of Thailand. It is protected and celebrated for its beauty and usefulness.

Are there any traditional uses for narra leaves or flowers?

In the Philippines, narra leaves and flowers are sometimes eaten, used in folk medicine, or made into infusions for washing hair. The tree is also a source of honey and resin.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pterocarpus indicus", 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.

Photo credits on this page

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

Plumeria: Renesis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Acacia: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Jasmine: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Waterlily: Ragesoss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Sensitive Plant: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Black locust: Annabell Hormann / korina.info, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Achiote: Primejyothi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Narra: Ping an Chang, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Lupin: Jean-Claude Echardour [CC BY-SA], via Tela Botanica, CC BY 2.0, source

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