Katakala
Strychnos potatorum
Outdoor Plants Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Strychnos potatorum (clearing nut tree or ‘Katakala’ in Odia, also called Nirmali) is a medium deciduous tree of the Loganiaceae family. The tree produces seeds that are traditionally used to clarify muddy water (hence ‘clearing nut’). Seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicine for eye diseases and digestive complaints. Wood is used for fuelwood and small construction.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun
💧
Water
Regular; moderately drought-tolerant
💨
Humidity
Moderate
🌡️
Temperature
15-38°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining loam
🧪
Fertilizer
Compost annually
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
Katakala
BN
Bengali
Katakala
MR
Marathi
Katakala
TE
Telugu
Katakala
TA
Tamil
Katakala
GU
Gujarati
Katakala
UR
Urdu
Katakala
KN
Kannada
Katakala
OR
Odia
Katakala
ML
Malayalam
Katakala
PA
Punjabi
Katakala
AS
Assamese
Katakala
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian Subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 m
- 📐 Spread
- 4-6 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot
- caterpillar defoliation
💡 Care tips
- Plant in well-draining soil with appropriate light.
- Tolerates Indian tropical conditions.
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One click — added instantly. Watering every 7 days, fertilizing every 30 days.