Millingtonia hortensis: Tree jasmine

Family: Bignoniaceae
Common name: Tree jasmine, Indian cork tree

Tree jasmine or Indian cork tree is a majestic, fast-growing tree primarily grown as an ornamental in home gardens and parks. Mostly found in South and South-east Asia, these trees are good for roadsides since they grow tall without damaging the pavements and roads.

Tree characteristics
The tree can grow to a height of 25 meters with a dense green foliage. Leaves are pinnately-compound each leaf consisting of 5-7 leaflets that are ovate.

These glossy, dark green leaves keep the tree beautiful and majestic even when it is not blooming. But then the tree flowers in spring and summer, it is covered with beautiful white flowers that grow in thick bunches.

Beautiful, delicately-scented, white, tubular flowers adorn the tree during summer and also early winter. Flowers are 5-7 cm in diameter, and have a long slender tube of corolla ending in five delicate white petals.

These flowers are fragrant, the sweet delicate scent especially noticeable at night when they attract nocturnal pollinators like moths and other insects. These flowers can also attract small bees, birds, and butterflies into the garden.

Tree jasmine flowers are short-lived; blooming at night and shedding in the morning so that the ground will be carpeted with white stars during the flowering season. Garden trees are not known to produce any fruits.

Gardening tips
Tree jasmines need good sunlight to grow and bloom well. They should be planted in well-drained soil with enough space around for the tree to grow and spread its canopy.

Watering, fertilization and pest control is needed only when the tree is small, after which they can pretty much take care of themselves.

Uses of Tree jasmine
The Indian cork tree has some medicinal uses; the leaves being used to treat fever and sinusitis. Dry flowers and roots are used for treating lung ailments.

The wood is quite brittle, and the outer bark looks cracked. Hence it is not used to make furniture, but is used as a cheap alternative to cork, this giving the tree its name Indian cork tree.

Propagation
Propagation is from seeds and suckers that grown around the parent tree.

Photographed at: Sobha Petunia, Bangalore