Kusum Tree (Schleichera oleosa)

Product description

The seeds of this tree contain a lot of oil and this is known as kusum oil. It is widely used for hair care, but also as fuel for lighting and it is also used for cooking in Asia. The seeds each grow in a fruit 3 cm big and the flesh has a pleasant slightly sour taste. It is a large tree in the tropics, reaching a height of about 30 metres. The species is mostly found in drier, open areas in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. There, the tree stands out for the red colour of its young leaves, with the tree even turning completely red after a dormant period. The wood also has a reddish-brown colour and is very durable. The bark has medicinal uses, including against malaria and skin problems. 

The species can be kept as a houseplant, so its young, red leaves are especially beautiful to see. The leaves also grow relatively large and have an oval shape. The plant does well in a sunny to semi-sunny position and in well-drained soil with regular watering. 

Schleichera oleosa is the only species of the genus and belongs to the soap tree family. 

Sowing description: Soak seeds in water for a few hours, then sow in soil for sowing. Keep soil constantly slightly moist and allow to germinate at 25-30grC. Germination usually after a few weeks, but can follow as long as the seeds are hard.