Which tree is the national tree of India?

The banyan, scientifically known as Ficus benghalensis, is the national tree of India.

Native to the Indian subcontinent, the banyan is famous for sending aerial roots down from its branches. When these roots reach the ground, they become woody supporting trunks, allowing a single tree to spread across a huge area and form a forest-like canopy.

The species is evergreen and can grow to around 30 metres tall, though its canopy may extend much farther sideways than its height. Birds eat its small figs and help disperse the seeds. Banyans often begin life as epiphytes on another tree, a habit that has led to the broader description “strangler fig.”

The banyan has deep cultural and religious importance in India, where it is often associated with temples, sacred spaces, shade, and longevity. It is sometimes confused with the peepal, or Ficus religiosa, another culturally significant Indian tree. The national tree designation specifically refers to Ficus benghalensis.