Dalbergia sissoo: Indian Rosewood1
Introduction
A handsome specimen, shade, framing, or street tree, easily-grown semi-evergreen Indian Rosewood has delicate, light green, oval pointed leaflets and can quickly reach 60 feet in height with a 40-foot spread. The inconspicuous, very fragrant, yellowish or white flowers are followed by slender, flat, brown, one to four-seeded pods. The trunks yield a prized cabinet wood for fine furniture and the Rosewood genus is an important timber tree in India. There are many Dalbergia spp. grown in the tropical regions of the world for veneer and lumber. Though the wood is beautiful, the tree has a reputation for being brittle. Some of this may be due to improper pruning practices or inadequate training when the tree is young. Be sure that lateral branches remain smaller than two-thirds the trunk diameter to help ensure good tree structure. Remove branches with embedded bark in favor of those with strong, `U'-shaped crotches. This could help keep the tree together in windstorms.
General Information
Scientific name: Dalbergia sissoo
Pronunciation: dal-BERG-ee-uh SIS-oo
Common name(s): indian rosewood
Family: Fabaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 10A through 11 (Figure 2)
Origin: native to India and Pakistan
UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: caution may be recommended, but manage to prevent escape (Central, South); not considered a problem species at this time, may be recommended (North)
Uses: shade; street without sidewalk; tree lawn 4–6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; parking lot island 100–200 sq ft; parking lot island > 200 sq ft; urban tolerant
Description
Height: 45 to 60 feet
Spread: 30 to 40 feet
Crown uniformity: irregular
Crown shape: oval
Crown density: open
Growth rate: fast
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound; made up of 3 to 7 leaflets
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: orbiculate, elliptic (oval)
Leaf venation: pinnate, brachidodrome
Leaf type and persistence: semi-evergreen
Leaf blade length: 6 inches; leaflets are 3 inches
Leaf color: green on top, paler green underneath
Fall color: no color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: yellowish or white
Flower characteristics: not showy; fragrant; emerges in clusters on axillary panicles
Flowering: spring and summer
Fruit
Fruit shape: flat pod or pod-like, elongated
Fruit length: 2 to 4 inches
Fruit covering: dry or hard
Fruit color: green to brown with maturity
Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically one trunk; no thorns
Bark: gray and smooth, becoming furrowed and rough with age
Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure
Breakage: susceptible to breakage
Current year twig color: green, brown
Current year twig thickness: thin, medium
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Culture
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; well-drained to occasionally wet
Drought tolerance: moderate
Aerosol salt tolerance: low
Other
Roots: can form large surface roots
Winter interest: no
Outstanding tree: no
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown
Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases
Use and Management
Growing quickly in full sun or high shifting shade, Indian Rosewood will thrive on a variety of soils types, from dry to wet but is not particularly salt-tolerant. Young plants should be watered until well-established. Plants train easily into a well-formed single leader tree, which is desirable in urban landscapes. Sprouts often develop from the roots and become a maintenance problem and roots often lift sidewalks if planted too close. Surface roots often grow large in diameter and can become a nuisance. A number of horticulturists consider this to be a nuisance tree. The tree casts light shade due to the open canopy.
Propagation is by seed, which germinates better if planted when still within the pod.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern. Magnesium deficiency is common.
Reference
Koeser, A. K., Hasing, G., Friedman, M. H., and Irving, R. B. 2015. Trees: North & Central Florida. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.