Phyllanthus emblica Seeds | Amla
LATIN NAME: Phyllanthus emblica
COMMON NAME: Amla
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) is a deciduous tree in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to warm woodlands of the southern and the south-eastern Asia, while it is prized for its fine, tangy fruits. It is prized for its small, round, smooth, greenish-yellow, tangy fruits. At maturity it stands about Fifteen metres. Through the flowering season it keeps visiting bees well supplied. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Phyllanthus emblica sits in the spurge family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Amla has a real and distinguished place in the research. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Amla for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, amla is a generous tree of the garden. Its many small, inconspicuous flowers feed many insects, and its small, round, greenish-yellow fruits are a fine food of birds and wildlife, while its fine, feathery, leafy crown gives a fine cover and a shelter to the birds. For a grower, amla is a rewarding and treasured tree, and for a gardener it brings a feathery-leaved, round-fruited, tangy tree to warm garden. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Phyllanthus, especially P. niruri, the stonebreaker, is a major Ayurvedic and Amazonian herb for liver and urinary-stone support, its lignans and tannins studied for liver-protective effects; it is one of the tropics’ most-researched folk medicines.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Amla under ordinary good conditions. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in bright light with steady moisture. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Amla earns its space through character rather than fuss. Plant it in sun with drainage to its liking and the rest is easy.
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