Prosopis cineraria, known as Shami or Khejri, is a small to medium thorny tree native to the arid and semi-arid regions of India, especially the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Revered in Hindu tradition and worshipped during Dussehra, it is the state tree of Rajasthan and Telangana and one of the toughest trees for hot, dry climates.
It has a deep tap-root that lets it survive extreme drought and poor sandy soils, fixing nitrogen to improve fertility around it. Its light, feathery foliage casts dappled shade without heavily competing with crops, which is why farmers retain it in fields across western India.
The tree produces fragrant yellow flowers and long bean-like pods called 'sangri', a prized vegetable in Rajasthani cuisine. Slow-growing but extremely long-lived and low-maintenance, it is ideal for arid landscaping, agroforestry and religious plantings.
Specifications
| Family |
Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Native region |
Arid and semi-arid India (Thar Desert), and the drylands of South & West Asia |
| Mature height |
5-10 m, occasionally up to 15 m |
| Mature spread |
5-9 m canopy |
| Growth rate |
Slow to moderate |
| Foliage |
Deciduous to semi-evergreen; fine bipinnate feathery green leaves |
| Flower colour |
Pale yellow to creamy white |
| Flower season |
Spring (March-May) |
| Climate zone |
Arid and semi-arid tropical; thrives in hot dry plains |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun; needs bright direct sunlight all day and tolerates intense heat. |
| Watering |
Very low once established; water young plants occasionally. Mature trees are highly drought-tolerant and need almost no irrigation. |
| Soil / mix |
Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soils; tolerates poor, alkaline and mildly saline soils. Avoid waterlogging. |
| Temperature |
Loves heat; tolerates 0 to 48 degrees C. Best growth in hot dry conditions. |
| Humidity |
Prefers low humidity; suited to dry climates and tolerates very arid air. |
| Fertilizer |
Minimal needs; being nitrogen-fixing it enriches its own soil. A little compost when young aids establishment. |
| Pruning |
Prune in winter to shape, remove deadwood and lift the canopy; traditionally lopped for fodder. Mind the sharp thorns. |
| Repotting |
Resents root disturbance due to its deep tap-root; transplant only when young. Best planted directly in the ground. |
| Propagation |
Mainly by seed (scarify/soak hard seed before sowing); can also be raised from root suckers. |
| Pests & problems |
Largely pest-resistant; occasional defoliating caterpillars, beetles or scale. Generally trouble-free. |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
- Sacred tree worshipped during Dussehra (Shami Puja); planted in temples and homes for religious significance.
- Tender pods ('sangri') and dried pods are a traditional Rajasthani vegetable, often cooked as 'ker sangri'.
- Excellent shade and avenue tree for hot, dry regions and desert landscaping.
- Key agroforestry tree: fixes nitrogen, improves soil fertility and supports intercropping in arid farms.
- Leaves ('loong') are nutritious livestock fodder; wood is used for fuel and small timber.
- Effective for sand-dune stabilisation, windbreaks and combating desertification.
Growing tips
Plant at the start of the monsoon (June-July) so seedlings establish with natural rainfall before the dry season. Choose an open, sunny, well-drained spot.
Water young plants every few days for the first year to build the deep tap-root, then taper off; mature trees rarely need watering. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged sites, which cause root rot.
Protect saplings from grazing animals with a guard. Do major pruning in winter when the tree is leafless. Once established it needs almost no care and thrives through the harshest Indian summers.
