Dhataki, dhawai in Hindi, is the fire-flame bush, a shrub of dry hills whose arching branches are lined with bright red, tubular flowers in late winter and spring. Ayurveda adds the dried flowers to asavas and arishtas, herbal tonics fermented in jars, because they help start and steady fermentation. The flowers are also a source of red dye and tannin.
- Botanical name
- Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz
- Family
- Lythraceae
- Tamil
- Dhataki
- Hindi
- Dhawai
- Sanskrit
- Dhātakī
- Parts used
- Flowers
- Habit
- Fire-flame shrub of dry hills; its red flowers start fermented tonics
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Dhataki
It is a spreading shrub, usually one to three metres tall, with long, arching branches and peeling reddish bark.
The leaves are opposite, narrow and lance-shaped, dotted with tiny black glands beneath.
Bright red, tubular flowers with protruding stamens crowd along the branches.
It flowers from February to April, often when the leaves are few.
The fruit is a small capsule enclosed in the persistent red calyx.
Traditional use of Dhataki
Ayurveda
Dried dhataki flowers are added to asavas and arishtas, such as ashokarishta, to drive fermentation.
Ayurvedic practice
Dyeing
The flowers give a red dye for silk and cotton.
Indian craft practice
Ayurveda
The flowers are also used in formulas for diarrhoea and bleeding.
Ayurvedic practice
Modern notes on Dhataki
The flowers carry wild yeasts and contain sugars and tannins that support fermentation.
They are rich in tannins and polyphenols such as woodfordins.
Collection of flowers for the herbal industry is a source of income in forest villages.
Dhataki safety
Use dhataki only in prepared formulas. Fermented arishtas contain some alcohol.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows on dry hills from India to China and South-east Asia.
Sunbirds and bees visit the red flowers.
It survives fires and resprouts quickly.
Related plants
Also in Lythraceae
Questions about Dhataki
Why is Dhataki called fire-flame bush?
Its branches are lined with red flowers.
Why is Dhataki used in arishtas?
Its flowers help start fermentation.
When does Dhataki flower?
From February to April.
Is Dhataki a dye plant?
Yes, for red dye.
Do arishtas contain alcohol?
Yes, a small amount from fermentation.
Can Dhataki be grown in a garden?
Yes. It is a hardy flowering shrub for dry, sunny places.
Sources
- Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q2143225 (Woodfordia fruticosa)
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.