Pride of India (Lagerstroemia speciosa)

Lagerstroemia speciosa, jarul or pride of India, is a large tree with crinkled, mauve to pink flowers in big upright sprays and broad, leathery leaves. It is the state flower of Maharashtra. Its durable timber was used for boats and bridges. In the Philippines its leaves, called banaba, are made into a tea marketed for blood sugar, an idea with limited evidence behind it.

Botanical name: Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.
Family: Lythraceae
Tamil: Semmaruthu
Hindi: Jarul
Parts used: Flowers (ornamental), Leaf (lists)
Habit: Crape myrtle of wet avenues
Last updated: 2026-10-26

How to recognise Pride of India

It is a medium to large deciduous tree with smooth, grey, flaking bark.

The leaves are large, leathery and oval, often turning red before they fall.

Flowers are large, with six crinkled, mauve-pink to purple petals, in long, upright clusters at the branch tips in the hot season.

Each flower lasts only a day or two, but new ones open for weeks, so the tree stays in colour through the hot season.

The fruit is a round, woody capsule that splits into six parts, releasing winged seeds.

Traditional use of Pride of India

Timber

The strong, water-resistant wood was used for boats, bridges and construction.

Indian timber use

Philippine practice

Banaba leaf tea is a traditional Filipino remedy for diabetes.

Philippine folk practice

Modern notes on Pride of India

Banaba leaves contain corosolic acid, studied for effects on blood sugar. The trials are small, and it should not replace diabetes treatment.

It is widely planted as a flowering avenue tree in Indian cities.

Pride of India safety

Do not use banaba products in place of prescribed diabetes medicine. Talk to a doctor first.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows wild along rivers and in moist forests from India to Southeast Asia.

Its flowers attract bees, and it grows well in wet climates.

It needs plenty of water and does best in humid regions.

Related plants

Also in Lythraceae

Questions about Pride of India

Is Pride of India crape myrtle?

It is a large tree relative of the shrubby crape myrtle.

Is Pride of India the state flower of Maharashtra?

Yes.

Does banaba tea lower blood sugar?

Evidence is limited. Do not use it instead of medicine.

When does Pride of India flower?

In the hot season, roughly April to June.

Sources

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.