Neem Chameli / Indian Cork Tree
Millingtonia hortensis
Also known as Tree Jasmine, Akash Neem
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana & more
- Flowering
- May-February
How to identify Neem Chameli
Identify Neem Chameli by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a tree habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Corky, deeply fissured bark.
- Confirm leaf type: Bipinnate/fern-like.
- Confirm flower colour: White.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: May-February.
- In India, compare location records such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra and nearby regions.
- Confirm it sits within the Bignoniaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Neem Chameli.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Millingtonia hortensis
- Genus
- Millingtonia
- Family
- Bignoniaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Planted
- Habitat type
- Cultivated
- Native to
- South & Southeast Asia
- Distribution
- South & Southeast Asia, Malesia
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand
- Flowering & fruiting
- May-February
Leaf characters
- Leaf type
- Bipinnate/fern-likerecorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Opposite
Characters marked “recorded” are for Neem Chameli itself; the rest are typical of the Bignoniaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Panicle
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Neem Chameli itself; the rest are typical of the Bignoniaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- नीम चमेली Neem Chameli
- Tamil
- கட் மல்லீ Kat-malli
- Telugu
- కవుకీ Kavuki
- Kannada
- ಬಿರಟೆಮರ Birate mara, ಆಕಾಶಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ Aakaasha mallige
- Malayalam
- കടെസമ് Katesam
- Marathi
- कावल निम्ब Kaval nimb, बुचाड़े झाड़ buchade jhad, आकाश चमेली Akash chameli
About Neem Chameli
Indian Cork Tree (Millingtonia hortensis) belongs to the Bignoniaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and 12 other states. It is planted. Flowering and fruiting run from May to February.
Uses
It is cut for timber and furniture and planted as an ornamental.
Bignoniaceae
Trumpet vine family
Neem Chameli belongs to the Bignoniaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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