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A few leaves or flowers may drop during transit. This is completely normal — plants settle and bounce back within a few days of basic care.

Kokum

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₹479

₹239 - ₹479

₹479

₹399

₹199 - ₹399

₹399

(MRP Inclusive of all taxes)

Quantity

Why it’s special?

Native Western Ghats fruit tree
Tangy rind for sol kadhi and pickles
Source of valued kokum butter
Hardy and long-lived
Attractive red-flushing new leaves

Flat ₹79 delivery on every order

🌎 Country of origin: India

Kokum (Garcinia indica) is a slender evergreen tree native to India's Western Ghats, widely grown in the Konkan, Goa and coastal Karnataka. It bears round, deep-purple fruit whose dried rind is a prized tangy souring agent in coastal cuisine and the base of the cooling drink sol kadhi. The graceful tree reaches 8-12 m with drooping branches and glossy leaves that flush red when young. It is dioecious, needing both male and female plants for fruit. Slow but long-lived, kokum is valued for its fruit rind, seed butter (kokum butter) and ornamental, shade-giving canopy.

Specifications

Family	Clusiaceae
Native region	Western Ghats, India
Mature height	8-12 m
Mature spread	4-6 m
Growth rate	Slow to moderate
Foliage	Evergreen, glossy; red-tinged new leaves
Flower colour	Pale pinkish-white
Flower season	Nov-Feb
Climate zone	Tropical humid coastal

Care guide

Sunlight	Full sun to partial shade
Watering	Regular when young; moderate once established
Soil / mix	Well-drained lateritic or loamy soil
Temperature	20-35 C; frost-sensitive
Humidity	High coastal humidity preferred
Fertilizer	FYM and balanced NPK twice yearly
Pruning	Minimal; remove dead or crossing branches
Repotting	Plant grafts out early; pot only when young
Propagation	Softwood grafting or seed
Pests & problems	Generally hardy; occasional mealybug, leaf spot
Toxicity / safety	Non-toxic; fruit and rind edible
Difficulty	Easy in humid coastal areas

Uses

Grown for its sour purple fruit rind used as a souring agent and in sol kadhi, sharbat and pickles, plus kokum butter from the seed. The tree also serves as ornamental coastal shade.

Growing tips

Plant grafted saplings in well-drained lateritic soil at monsoon onset; in a humid coastal climate grow both male and female plants, or grafted bisexual types, to ensure fruiting.

Kokum Care

Kokum (Garcinia indica) is a slow-growing evergreen that prefers warm, humid conditions and a spot with partial to full sun once established. Water regularly to keep the soil moist but never waterlogged, and use a rich, well-draining loamy mix for healthy roots. Young plants appreciate some shade and shelter from harsh afternoon heat, while mature trees tolerate coastal and tropical climates well.

Kokum Benefits & Uses

Kokum is prized across western and southern India for its tangy purple fruit, whose dried rind (aamsul or kokum) is a staple souring agent in Goan and Konkani cooking. The fruit is used to make kokum sharbat, a cooling summer drink, and kokum butter is extracted from the seeds for skincare. Growing your own gives you fresh access to a fruit valued in traditional kitchens and home remedies.

Where to place Kokum

Plant Kokum where it gets steady warmth and bright light, such as a sunny balcony, terrace or a well-lit corner of the garden. It thrives in humid, tropical and coastal settings and can be grown in a large container while young before moving to open ground. Give it room to develop its naturally pyramidal, evergreen canopy.

Why buy Kokum online in India

Buying a Kokum plant online with GardenGo means it is sourced locally and delivered fast, often within about two hours in serviced areas, so it arrives alive and healthy rather than stressed from days in transit. You can add the right pot, potting soil and tools to the same order and get everything for your garden in one delivery. Every plant is checked before dispatch so you start with a strong, well-rooted specimen.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water a kokum plant?

Water young plants regularly to establish them; mature trees need only moderate watering and tolerate the coastal monsoon-dry cycle.

How much sunlight does kokum need?

It grows in full sun to partial shade, with good sun giving better fruiting in humid coastal areas.

Is kokum safe for pets?

Yes, kokum fruit and rind are non-toxic and traditionally edible, posing no known risk to pets.

When should I plant out a kokum sapling?

Plant grafted saplings into well-drained ground early, ideally at the start of the monsoon, as it dislikes long container life.

How is kokum propagated?

It is propagated by softwood grafting for true-to-type, early-bearing plants; seeds work but give variable, slow results.

Why is my kokum not fruiting?

Kokum is dioecious, so you need both male and female trees, or a grafted bisexual variety, for fruit to set.

When does kokum flower and fruit?

It flowers in winter and ripens its purple fruit through summer, around April to May in coastal India.

Can kokum be grown outside coastal areas?

It does best in humid coastal climates; in drier inland areas it needs sheltered, frost-free spots and regular moisture.

Is any part of kokum toxic?

No, kokum is non-toxic; the fruit rind is widely used in cooking and the seed yields edible kokum butter.

What fertilizer suits kokum?

Apply farmyard manure and a balanced NPK twice a year, feeding before flowering for a better fruit set.

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Kokum