Sheesham, or sissoo, is a fast-growing timber tree of the North Indian plains, planted along roads, canals and farm boundaries. Its golden to dark brown heartwood is the sheesham wood of Jodhpur and Saharanpur furniture. All rosewoods were listed under CITES in 2017, but sheesham was removed from that listing in 2022 because it is widely grown. From the late 1990s a wilt disease killed many sheesham trees in Punjab and the Terai.
- Botanical name
- Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Tamil
- Sissoo
- Hindi
- Sheesham
- Sanskrit
- Śiṃśapā
- Parts used
- Heartwood, Leaf in lists
- Habit
- Sheesham, a fast-growing North Indian timber tree
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Sissoo
It is a deciduous tree, often fifteen to twenty-five metres, with a spreading crown and rough grey bark.
The leaves are pinnate, with three to five broad leaflets ending in a sharp point, set alternately on a zigzag stalk.
Small, pale yellow, fragrant pea-flowers grow in short clusters in spring.
The pods are flat, thin and strap-shaped, with one to four seeds.
Indian rosewood has more, rounder leaflets and darker purple wood.
Traditional use of Sissoo
Craft
Sheesham wood is used for doors, beds, carved chairs and export furniture.
North Indian craft practice
Farming
Farmers plant it on field edges for timber, fuel and fodder leaves.
North Indian farm practice
Ayurveda
Shimshapa wood and leaves are listed in Ayurvedic texts.
Ayurvedic texts
Modern notes on Sissoo
Sheesham dieback, linked to Fusarium wilt and waterlogging, killed large numbers of trees across Punjab, Haryana and Nepal.
The 2022 CITES conference removed Dalbergia sissoo from Appendix II, easing export of furniture.
Wood dust can cause skin rashes and asthma in carpenters.
Sissoo safety
Woodworkers should use masks and ventilation when sanding sheesham. Buy furniture from legal timber sources.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows wild along rivers in the foothills of the Himalaya and spreads by root suckers.
It fixes nitrogen and improves soil.
It has become invasive in parts of Africa and Australia.
Related plants
Also in Fabaceae
Questions about Sissoo
Is sheesham rosewood?
It is a rosewood relative, Dalbergia sissoo.
Is sheesham trade restricted?
It was removed from CITES Appendix II in 2022.
Why did many trees die?
A wilt disease and waterlogging caused dieback.
How fast does Sissoo grow?
Fast, which is why it is planted on farms.
How is Sissoo different from Indian rosewood?
Fewer pointed leaflets and lighter wood.
Sources
- Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q1157813 (Dalbergia sissoo)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.