In order to maintain their power over India, the British Colonialists projected themselves as superior and Indians as inferior. They focused on many areas to drive home this point. One of them was Ornamental plants and landscape in public places.  They also wanted to put their European or Colonial standard plants and Trees wherever possible at Indian tax payers expense.

 

They chose plants that looked good from abroad while eliminating good ones from India. It reinforced the mindset that good things only come from abroad and there is nothing good in India - India means just substandard.  

 

In ancient India public spaces plants/trees  in India prioritized medicinal use, so the material was available to treat people abundantly. The British colonialists by removing and discouraging the medicinal use trees/plants from public places which they controlled as rulers. They made the medical treatment via Ayurveda more remote and less accessible publicly.  This is continuation of strategy of Macaulay who had already removed all public support for native education from 1835 itself.

 

Even today, the public spaces in India including avenues and public gardens are full of colonial era - plants and trees with miniscule support for traditional plants and trees. India has a strong tradition of aromatic plants - even those don't find space in the avenues and public gardens.

 

There is neither any effort nor any sustained initiative to bring back the native plants, trees and landscape.  Mechanically, the various experts connected with this area keep continuing the colonial era standards, protocols and list of plants, trees as well as landscape formats.

 

 

 

Below is a comparative table of 25 colonial-era ornamental trees widely planted in Indian cities and 25 native Indian substitutes better suited for biodiversity, Ayurveda-linked traditions, and climate resilience. Many of the indigenous species are documented in classical botanical knowledge preserved in texts such as the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.

 

The aim is gradual replacement in future plantings, especially in roads, parks, campuses, and heritage sites.

 

Colonial Trees vs Native Indian Substitutes for Roads and Parks

Colonial / Exotic Tree Native Region Indian Substitute Why the Native Tree Is Better

Delonix regia (Gulmohar) Madagascar Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadamba) Sacred tree, supports pollinators, culturally rooted

Peltophorum pterocarpum (Copperpod) SE Asia Saraca asoca (Ashoka) Medicinal and sacred tree

Jacaranda mimosifolia South America Lagerstroemia speciosa (Jarul) Native ornamental with medicinal value

Spathodea campanulata Africa Butea monosperma (Palash) Supports pollinators and traditional dyes

Eucalyptus globulus Australia Azadirachta indica (Neem) Medicinal, drought tolerant

Samanea saman (Rain Tree) Central America Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) Keystone species for wildlife

Leucaena leucocephala Central America Pongamia pinnata (Karanj) Nitrogen fixing and non-invasive

Grevillea robusta Australia Terminalia arjuna Medicinal and good avenue tree

Senna siamea SE Asia Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) Edible fruit and medicinal

Tabebuia rosea Central America Mesua ferrea (Nagkesar) Sacred fragrant flowers

Additional 15 Pairs for Urban Landscapes

Colonial Tree Indian Replacement Advantage

Cassia fistula (often exotic cultivars used) Aegle marmelos Sacred and medicinal

Khaya senegalensis Syzygium cumini Fruit tree supporting birds

Cupressus sempervirens Polyalthia longifolia Native evergreen avenue tree

Araucaria heterophylla Mimusops elengi Fragrant flowers and medicinal bark

Plumeria rubra Michelia champaca Sacred fragrant flowers

Casuarina equisetifolia Barringtonia acutangula Wetland native supporting biodiversity

Melaleuca quinquenervia Holoptelea integrifolia Native shade tree with medicinal value

Parkinsonia aculeata Albizia lebbeck Native nitrogen-fixing tree

Schinus molle Ficus racemosa Important medicinal fig

Washingtonia robusta Borassus flabellifer Native palm with economic value

Roystonea regia Corypha umbraculifera Native palm supporting biodiversity

Spathodea nilotica Neolamarckia cadamba Pollinator-friendly flowering

Tamarix aphylla Salvadora persica Drought-resistant native

Acacia auriculiformis Acacia catechu Native medicinal tree

Callistemon citrinus Woodfordia fruticosa Important medicinal shrub

Why These Indian Trees Are Preferable

1. Biodiversity restoration 🐦

Native species support:

 

birds

 

butterflies

 

bees

 

soil microorganisms.

 

Ficus species alone support hundreds of insect and bird species.

 

2. Alignment with traditional knowledge 🌿

Many native trees appear in Ayurvedic plant knowledge documented in classical texts such as:

 

Charaka Samhita

 

Sushruta Samhita.

 

These trees historically formed part of temple gardens, sacred groves, and medicinal landscapes.

 

3. Climate resilience

Native species:

 

tolerate heat and drought better

 

require less irrigation

 

maintain urban soil health.

 

4. Cultural continuity

Trees such as:

 

Ficus religiosa

 

Aegle marmelos

 

Neolamarckia cadamba

 

are deeply embedded in Indian religious and cultural traditions.

 

✅ Policy implication

 

Future urban forestry, Smart Cities landscaping, and monument conservation programs led by the Archaeological Survey of India could prioritize these indigenous species to gradually restore historically rooted and biodiverse public landscapes.