Colonial Trees vs Native Indian Substitutes for Roads and Parks
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
| S.No | Colonial / Exotic Tree | Native Region | Indian Substitute | Why the Native Tree Is Better |
| 1 | Delonix regia (Gulmohar) | Madagascar | Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadamba) | Sacred tree, supports pollinators, culturally rooted |
| 2 | Peltophorum pterocarpum (Copperpod) | SE Asia | Saraca asoca (Ashoka) | Medicinal and sacred tree |
| 3 | Jacaranda mimosifolia | South America | Lagerstroemia speciosa (Jarul) | Native ornamental with medicinal value |
| 4 | Spathodea campanulata | Africa | Butea monosperma (Palash) | Supports pollinators and traditional dyes |
| 5 | Eucalyptus globulus | Australia | Azadirachta indica (Neem) | Medicinal, drought tolerant |
| 6 | Samanea saman (Rain Tree) | Central America | Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) | Keystone species for wildlife |
| 7 | Leucaena leucocephala | Central America | Pongamia pinnata (Karanj) | Nitrogen fixing and non-invasive |
| 8 | Grevillea robusta | Australia | Terminalia arjuna | Medicinal and good avenue tree |
| 9 | Senna siamea | SE Asia | Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) | Edible fruit and medicinal |
| 10 | Tabebuia rosea | Central America | Mesua ferrea (Nagkesar) | Sacred fragrant flowers |
Additional 15 Pairs for Urban Landscapes
| S.No | Colonial / Exotic Tree | Indian Replacement | Advantage |
| 1 | Cassia fistula (often exotic cultivars used) | Aegle marmelos | Sacred and medicinal |
| 2 | Khaya senegalensis | Syzygium cumini | Fruit tree supporting birds |
| 3 | Cupressus sempervirens | Polyalthia longifolia | Native evergreen avenue tree |
| 4 | Araucaria heterophylla | Mimusops elengi | Fragrant flowers and medicinal bark |
| 5 | Plumeria rubra | Michelia champaca | Sacred fragrant flowers |
| 6 | Casuarina equisetifolia | Barringtonia acutangula | Wetland native supporting biodiversity |
| 7 | Melaleuca quinquenervia | Holoptelea integrifolia | Native shade tree with medicinal value |
| 8 | Parkinsonia aculeata | Albizia lebbeck | Native nitrogen-fixing tree |
| 9 | Schinus molle | Ficus racemosa | Important medicinal fig |
| 10 | Washingtonia robusta | Borassus flabellifer | Native palm with economic value |
| 11 | Roystonea regia | Corypha umbraculifera | Native palm supporting biodiversity |
| 12 | Spathodea nilotica | Neolamarckia cadamba | Pollinator-friendly flowering |
| 13 | Tamarix aphylla | Salvadora persica | Drought-resistant native |
| 14 | Acacia auriculiformis | Acacia catechu | Native medicinal tree |
| 15 | 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.
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- Macaulay’s Education Goals: Demoralization, Degrading, And Demotivation
- Binary Thinking Of The British Colonists And Macaulay Education
- Rich Heritage Of Employable Skills Through Kalas Lost in Macaulay Education System
- Reviving Ancient Hindu Garden Traditions In Protected Monuments