Chara
Buchanania lanzan
Fruit Plants & Bushes Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
Buchanania lanzan (syn. Buchanania cochinchinensis — charoli or ‘Chara’ in Odia, also called chironji) is a medium deciduous tree of the Anacardiaceae family. The tree produces small almond-flavoured seeds (chironji) that are eaten raw, roasted, or used in Indian sweets and curries — seeds are among India’s most expensive dry fruits (₹800-1500 per kg). The tree is naturally found in dry deciduous forests of central India. Wood is used for fuelwood and charcoal. Bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun
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Water
Regular; drought-tolerant once established
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Humidity
Moderate
🌡️
Temperature
15-38°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining loam
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Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India
- 📏 Max height
- 10-15 m
- 📐 Spread
- 5-7 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring (small white-yellow flowers in panicles)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Deciduous leathery dark green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 60+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot, stem borer, fruit borer
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun. Slow-growing but valuable seeds. Wild-harvested in central India — conservation priority.
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