Other Names— Aamalaki, Amalaki, Amblabaum, Amla, Amla Berry, Aonla, Aovla, Arbre de Malacca, Arbre Myrobolan, Dhatriphala, Emblic, Emblica, Emblica officinalis, Emblic Myrobalan, Groseille à Maquereau Indienne, Groseille Indienne, Groseillier de Ceylan, Grosella de la India, Indian-Gooseberry, Mirobalano, Myrobalan Emblic, Mirobalanus embilica, Neli, Phyllanthus emblica, Yu Gan Zi

Amla is used in traditional Indian subcontinent recipes, in various cuisines and Ayurveda for its medicinal values. All parts of Amla tree are useful, its leaves, roots, fruits, seeds, bark, and flowers are used to prepare a variety of items like juice, chutney, jam, infusions, lotions, concentrates, herbal teas and other natural concoctions.

Characteristics

It is a wild deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 m tall. The Indian gooseberry tree has smooth, gray-brown bark. The leaves are like a tamarind tree or a fern-like, oblong but narrow, up to 2 cm and flowers are inconspicuous as they are green in color. The flowers are bisexual and appear in clusters. Fruits are smaller in size with a diameter up to 3 cm, in greenish-yellow color that changes into orange-brown after maturity. The flesh is tart, juicy, and crisp and contains 1 or 2 small seeds.

How to Grow Amla Tree

Propagation

It can be started from seeds, from budding or air layering. But the better option is to buy a grafted tree from a nursery.

Varieties

You can grow any commercial variety you want in tropics and subtropics, but for a little more temperate climates where the temperature dips mildly below the freezing point (32 F), a variety, wild Himalayan amla is better.

Requirements for Growing Amla Tree

Position

Plant Amla tree in a location that is less windy and sunny. The well-draining and sloppy position is good for its growth.

Soil

Well-drained, loamy to light heavy soil that is deep and rich in organic matter is required for growing amla tree. A pH level can be between slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. The waterlogged and clay-rich soil is detrimental and must be avoided, same is the case with too sandy soils.

Watering

Regular and abundant watering is essential at the young age. Once the tree gets established, it doesn’t require regular and frequent watering. However, you can water the plant during the period of active growth or in a drought like conditions in summer. Watering 2-3 times in a month in summer is sufficient for a mature tree. In any case, water stagnation must be avoided.

Temperature

Amla tree is tough and resistant to exploits of climate. It bears mild snowfall during winter months in the forest of Western Himalayas and tolerates extreme heat and dry atmosphere in tropical India. It is sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures and grows best when it is not exposed to frost.

Spacing

Space the Amla tree approx. 20-30 feet away from each other. However, in forests, these trees grow more densely.

Amla Tree Care

Pruning

Prune it back to keep in shape and control each year in December or January in tropics and spring in subtropics. All the dead, damaged, diseased branches or the ones that are entangled and crossing each other must be removed from time to time. If the tree starts to produce less fruit, cut it back to about five feet in the spring to rejuvenate it.

Fertilizer

Since you are growing it for yourself, our recommendation is to use only natural fertilizers. Application of aged manure is sufficient for this tree. Although, if the tree is producing poorly you can fertilize it with fruit fertilizer according to the product’s instructions.

Mulching

Do thick mulching with lots of organic matter at the end of spring to help the substrate in retaining moisture.

Pests and Diseases

In diseases, it can be infected by rust. Pest like caterpillars, mealybugs or other general garden pests may infect it.

Harvesting

Growing amla tree from seed takes around five years to produce fruits. Fruits are hard and glossy, of dull green color and generally appear from January to March in tropics.