Sandalwood, an extraordinarily beautiful and curious tree

El sandalwood It is a really beautiful tree that can be grown in both small and medium gardens, in addition to, of course, in the largest ones, but it is more recommended to have it in a pot or as an isolated specimen because it is not a harmless plant as we will see later. .

Despite this characteristic, it is a plant that is grown in hot regions of the world due to its beauty and its interesting properties.

Sandalwood characteristics

Sandalwood, whose scientific name is Santalum album, is an evergreen tree (that is, it looks evergreen) native to Asia, especially India, which can also be found in Australia. Grows to a height of 4 to 9 meters, either by itself or, more frequently, with the obligatory help of other plants.

Yeah friends yeah this is a plant that parasitizes the roots of other plant beings in order to be able to get phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium in sufficient quantities so that it can have a good development. But, unlike the strangler fig (ficus benghalensis) this tree does not end the life of plants.

Its leaves are lanceolate, 10-15cm long by 5-6cm wide, have the main vein visible and they are bright green on the upper surface and glaucous on the underside, with green-yellowish margins. They have a petiole, which is a very short stem 2-3cm in length that joins the branches.

It begins to produce fruit from the age of three, and viable seeds from the age of five.

As a curiosity, it must be added that has a life expectancy of thirty years.

What care do you need?

We do not know if after reading that it is a parasitic plant you really want to have a sandalwood; Even so, you have to know that it can be grown in a pot without problems, or as an isolated specimen as we mentioned at the beginning. Therefore, if in the end you dare, then we are going to tell you what care you have to provide:

Location

Its convenient that give it direct sunlight, ideally throughout the day. Only in the case that the temperature in summer is more than 38ºC, it must be put in semi-shade so that the leaves do not burn.

As it has parasitic roots, it is very important to put it as far as possible from any other plant. The minimum distance must be ten meters.

Soil or substrate

Must be rich in organic matter, loose, with good sewer system and slightly acidic (pH of 6-6.5). In limestone soils it would have iron chlorosis caused by the unavailability of an essential nutrient for growth: iron.

If you have it in a pot, you can use a specific substrate for acidic plants that we will find for sale in any nursery and garden store.

Irrigation

In their natural habitat they fall between 500 and 3000mm per year, but to have a good development it is necessary that they receive water on a regular basis. For this reason, we recommend that irrigation be frecuenteespecially during the summer months.

The frequency will vary depending on the weather and location, but generally you need to water 4-5 times a week during the warm months, and every 2-3 days the rest of the year.

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Very convenient if it is potted. We can pay it in spring and summer with organic fertilizers, such as guano (liquid), earthworm humus (liquid), or manure.

Planting or transplanting time

The best time to spend it in the garden or to change the pot is in spring, when temperatures start to rise above 15ºC.

Multiplication

Sandalwood multiplies by seeds. These have to be sown in a seedbed in spring, in a pot filled with vermiculite. To have a higher germination rate, it is advisable to introduce them beforehand in a glass of water for twenty-four hours so that the embryo rehydrates and can germinate more quickly.

They can take from one to eight weeks to germinate, depending on whether they have been collected from the tree and sown the same day or if, on the contrary, they have been kept and after a while they have been sown.

Rusticity

Being a tropical plant, unfortunately does not resist the cold. It can be grown outdoors all year round only if the temperature does not drop below 0 degrees. In the case of living in an area where winter is cooler, we can keep it indoors in a very bright room without drafts until spring returns.

What is it used for?

This tree is a plant that is used as ornamental plant, but it has other uses:

• Carpentry: Wood has a fine and regular texture, and when it dries it does not crack, so it is used to make boxes, frames, combs, and other small objects.
• Medicine: the essential oil extracted from its trunk has relaxing properties. It also helps to take care of dry skin and to improve the quality of sleep.

Sandalwood incense

A very widespread use in India is to make incense. With it, what is intended to achieve is the spiritual purity, plus open and clear the airways. It is also used to regulate the heart rate, thus preventing tachycardia.

Still, keep in mind that it is a vulnerable species. To protect it, in India it has been declared National Property to preserve it from deforestation to which it has been exposed. For this reason, it is a species protected by law, for that reason only legal seeds or seedlings have to be acquired, that is, they have their Phytosanitary Certificate.

Did you know sandalwood?