The handsome semi-evergreen tree grows thirty to fifty feet tall and thirty feet wide with lush, glossy green, oval leaflets that are lighter green on the undersides of the leaves. It develops inconspicuous, fragrant, white flower clusters that appear in spring. After the flowers have died, slender, elongated, brown seedpods form. It has an irregular silhouette and produces a great splash of lush green that provides shade in the landscape. The bark is shaggy and reddish brown, becoming darker as the tree ages. Its trunk and beautiful wood is used for fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, instruments, and timber. This tree is hardy to twenty-five to thirty degrees Fahrenheit. When temperatures drop well below freezing, the foliage may show significant frost damage.
However, new growth appears quickly in spring. Mature trees are hardier to frost conditions than younger trees. It tolerates a wide variety of soils, likes full sun and reflected heat, and is a moderate to fast grower. The size of this tree can be controlled by pruning, and it should be correctively pruned during the dormant months to develop a strong structure. Keep young trees well watered until established and then provide supplemental irrigation during the hot, dry season. Surface roots of this tree can become a maintenance problem and possibly lift sidewalks. Use it in parking lots, lawns, parks, medians, or roadsides, or as a residential or commercial shade tree. The Indian rosewood is also a great choice for oriental effects. It is native to India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and widely grown in warmer climates around the world.