Description for Pongamia Pinnata, Karanj
Plant height: 19 – 29 inches
Plant spread: 5 – 9 inches
Pongamia pinnata, a fast-growing, hardy tree that is native to India and grows all over the world in sub-tropical climates. Pongamia grows robustly on dry, marginal land using its deep tap root and produces a large amount of oilseeds that can be mechanically harvested and processed using existing agriculture equipment.

Common name(s): Pongamia Pinnata, Karanj, Indian Beech, Pongam Oiltree, Karanj, Honge ,Pungai nuga (Telugu), Naktam.
Flower colours: Purple, pink, and white
Bloom time: Annual
Max reachable height: 8 meters
Difficulty to grow: Easy to grow
Planting and care
Sunlight: Full sun.
Soil: Can grow on most soil types ranging from stony to sandy to clay.
Water: Draught taulerant
Temperature: Maximum temperature ranges from 27 to 38C and the minimum 1 to16C.
Fertilizer: Any organic fertilizers.
Caring for Pongamia Pinnata
Probably ranges from Tropical Dry to Moist through Subtropical Dry to Moist Forest Life Zones.
Withstanding temperatures slightly below 0C to 50C and annual rainfall of 5 to 25 dm.
the tree grows wild on sandy and rocky soils, including oolitic limestone, but will grow in most soil types, even with its roots in salt water.
Typical uses of Pongamia Pinnata
Special features: The flowers are used by gardeners as compost for plants requiring rich nutrients.

Ornamental use: Ornamental shade tree.

Medicinal use: A thick yellow-orange to brown oil is extracted from seeds. Yields of 25% of volume are possible using a mechanical expeller. However, for village crushers average yield is 20%. The oil has a bitter taste and a disagreeable aroma, thus it is not considered edible. In India, the oil is used as a fuel for cooking and lamps. The oil is also used as a lubricant, water-paint binder, pesticide, and in soap making and tanning industries.