Fauna
Plant

Coral Jasmine

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Also known as Parijat, Shiuli, Tree of Sorrow, Night-blooming Jasmine

Coral jasmine unfolds pinwheel-shaped white flowers with vibrant orange central tubes at dusk, releasing an intoxicating honeyed fragrance before shedding its petals at dawn. The fallen corollas carpet forest floors and garden paths in a fragrant mosaic, giving rise to its folklore moniker as the tree of sorrow. Highly prized in traditional medicine and cultural festivals across South Asia, its stiff quadrangular stems bear rough, sandpaper-like leaves historically used to polish wood and stone.

Night-bloomingFragrantMedicinal
Coral Jasmine reference1 / 7
(c) T R Shankar Raman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • Caterpillars
  • Spider mites
  • Leafminers
ThreatsHabitat clearing and unsustainable local harvesting for wild medicine
HabitatsDry deciduous forests, rocky hillsides, and tropical gardens
Life span20–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyOleaceae
  2. SpeciesNyctanthes arbor-tristis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Dawn observation: Visit at sunrise to see freshly dropped blossoms carpeting the ground before they wilt.
  • Foliage texture: Gently stroke the upper leaf surface to feel its uniquely abrasive, sandpapery texture.
Related species
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