A marriage of beauty and benefits, Parijat, popularly known as Harsinghar and Prajakta, has many surprises in store. Native to India and rest of Southeast Asia, this plant has been revered in several walks of life. From blooming in the night to being used as a key ingredient in food, Parijat is integral to India’s rich traditions from medicinal, religious and landscaping uses.
It is known by many names across the world – Night-blooming Jasmine, Tree of Sadness, Tree of Sorrow, Coral Jasmine, Sephalika and the list goes on. A small, deciduous shrub, Parijat produces striking orangish red and white flowers that are highly fragrant in nature that open at dusk and finish at dawn.
In addition to beautifying any garden or recreational space, Parijat offers a host of other benefits too. The orange dye from the corolla, nyctanthin, is used to dye silk. Traditionally, the native people of Eastern India used the plant to help predict weather and rainfall as the flowers were deeply associated with the autumn season. Being a sacred tree, this divine flower is widely used in India for making garlands, and other forms of worshipping.
Talking about medicinal purposes, the leaves have been long used in Ayurvedic and Homeopathy medicines for treating several bone related illnesses.
Religious and mythological stories around the flower are abundant too. It is being said that this flower has the bark of gold, leaves of copper colour and bears a fragrant, rejuvenate fruit. In Hindu mythology, Parijat was one of the five trees that emerged during the legend of the Samudra Manthana as described in the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
Parijat can be easily grown at home in pots, provided the plant receives full sun – 4-5 hours of direct sunlight. It does wonders in an outdoor environment, if planned well.
By Dipti Agarwal Founder and Chief Gardening Officer, Peepal Resident of Kemps Corner Mobile: +91 74000***** | Email: dipti.agarwal@peepal.one | Website: https://peepal.one/ | Instagram: peepalindia
