Plant narra well away from pavement, with the root flare at the soil line, and keep grass off the young tree. Surface roots will lift a sidewalk if you crowd the trunk against concrete.
Plant it well away from pavement, with the root flare at grade
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Open ground well off a sidewalk, drive, or foundation | Do not plant it in a narrow tree pit against concrete |
| Stock | A nursery container tree, or a stake that has already rooted | A wild sapling with a torn root system |
| Hole | Wider than the pot and no deeper, with the flare at the soil line | A deep hole that buries the flare, or a wet pocket that holds a puddle |
| Weeds | Keep grass and tall weeds off the young tree for one to two years | Letting turf sit against the trunk while the tree is still small |
Set Narra where the near-surface laterals have soil, not a slab. The roots run along wet or clay ground, so a sidewalk, curb, or thin tree pit fails first. [1] [2] A nursery tree or a rooted stake takes better than a wild sapling pulled from a ditch. [3] Sun and watering once the tree is established stay on How to Grow Narra. [4]
How to set a narra tree in the ground
- Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the pot and no deeper than the root ball.
- Set the root flare at the soil line, or a little high in clay so the trunk does not sit in a sunken well.
- Backfill with the soil you dug out. Do not pack compost into a tight hole that then holds water.
- Water it in, firm the soil lightly, and spread two to three inches of mulch, keeping the mulch off the trunk.
When do I plant a narra tree?
Plant in the warm, wet part of the year so rain helps the first weeks. Do not plant into a freeze.
Leave 50 feet of canopy room, and keep grass off the young tree
Open-grown narra spreads about as wide as it is tall, so leave 50 feet or more of canopy room, and keep the trunk 20 feet or more from pavement. A young tree competes poorly with tall grass. Weed a ring around the trunk for the first year or two, then let the shade take over.
Can I plant narra in a small front yard?
Not as the usual home. The crown and surface roots want a park lawn, a wide median, or a large lot.
If the sidewalk lifts, the trunk was set against concrete. Plant the next tree in open ground, with the flare visible and grass kept back.
FAQ
Can I plant a grocery seed as the landscape tree?
A pod can make a tree, but it will not match a named clone. Sow it on How to Grow Narra from Seed, then plant the seedling out once it is sturdy.
Should I add fertilizer in the hole?
Water the tree in with the existing soil. A compost plug in a tight hole holds water against the roots.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Traditional Trees of Pacific Island Agroforestry -
https://agroforestry.net/images/pdfs/Pterocarpus-narra.pdf - [2] USDA Forest Service Woody Plant Seed Manual -
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nsl/Wpsm/Pterocarpus.pdf - [3] NParks Flora Fauna Web -
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/0/3093 - [4] National Tropical Botanical Garden -
https://ntbg.org/database/plants/detail/Pterocarpus-indicus
This note is part of Pterocarpus Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors