10 Indian Trees With Edible Green Leaves

Trees of India are used for medicinal and culinary use, All parts of the trees including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers are used in various Ayurvedic medicine herbal preparations.

बेल / Bael – Aegle marmelos

Aegle marmelos or stone apple tree is considered sacred in India, a rare species of tree that is native to the Indian subcontinent. Bael tree is the only member of the genus, fruits can be eaten fresh, leaves and small shoots are eaten as salad greens and used in traditional medicine.

सहजन / Drumstick / Munga – Moringa oleifera

The drumstick tree or moringa tree is a fast-growing tree native to the Indian subcontinent. Leaves, flower and seed pods are used as vegetables in India and also used for traditional herbal medicine.

शीशम / Sheesham – Dalbergia sissoo

Sheesham also known as Indian Rosewood is fast growing tree native to the Indian subcontinent and primarily found along river banks also is an important commercial timber.

अर्जुन / Arjuna Tree – Terminalia arjuna

Arjuna tree found growing on river banks of India and a seen across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Arjun Chaal known as arjuna bark powder helps to maintain normal blood pressure.

वट / बरगद / Banyan – Ficus benghalensis

Indian banyan tree is among the largest trees in the world and a sacred tree native to the Indian Subcontinent along with Peepal. Banyan tree is a fast-growing tree and national tree of India, considered sacred in India and always found temples nearby.

पीपल / Sacred fig – Ficus religiosa

Peepal tree is also known as ashvattha tree in India and considered sacred in three major religions originated in the Indian subcontinent. Sacred fig tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and use as an ornamental tree around road, in the gardens and parks.

गूलर / Audumbar – Ficus racemosa

Gular or cluster fig also referred as the Audumbara tree is an important species of tree in India, The fruits are commonly eaten as raw or as a vegetable also serves as a favourite food for Indian macaque species and host caterpillars of list of Indian butterflies.

नीम / Neem – Azadirachta indica

Indian lilac or Neem tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil. The fast-growing tree leaves, flowers are used for vegetable and small branches are use in traditional medicine and teeth cleaning called datun sticks.

कढ़ी पत्ता / Curry Tree – Murraya koenigii

Curry tree also sometimes called as sweet neem and used in many dishes in the Indian subcontinent. The Kadipatta or curry leaves used as a herb in Ayurvedic and part of Indian cuisine make thoran, vada, rasam and kadhi as well as Indian traditional medicines.

कचनार / Orchid Tree – Bauhinia Variegata

Bauhinia variegata is a medium to large size tree with leaves 10–20 centimetres in size, used in many traditional Indian medicine as fresh and dried. A very popular ornamental tree grown for its beautiful scented flowers and also used as a food item in Indian cuisine.

Phyllanthus emblica along with Terminalia Chebula and Terminalia bellirica are three major trees of a popular Indian herbal rasayana called triphala.