Photo: Forest and Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 us)
Shisham (Indian Rosewood) (Dalbergia sissoo): Premium furniture-grade hardwood — one of India's most commercially important timber trees.
🔍 Quick Facts
| Common name | Shisham (Indian Rosewood) |
| Other names | Shisham, Sheesham (Hindi); Indian rosewood, Sissoo |
| Scientific name | Dalbergia sissoo |
| Plant family | Fabaceae (legume family) |
| Size | 20–25 m deciduous tree |
| Native region | Indian Subcontinent |
| Climate | Tropical/Sub-tropical |
| Ease of growing | Moderate |
| Parts used | Wood, Bark, Leaves |
About Shisham
Sheesham is India's most popular wood for solid furniture — Jodhpur and Saharanpur are known for sheesham furniture and carving. Its heartwood is golden to dark brown with a beautiful grain, and it is very durable. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves the soil and is often planted along canals and roads in Punjab and Haryana.
Botanically known as Dalbergia sissoo, it belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is native to Indian Subcontinent and grows best in a tropical/sub-tropical climate. The parts most often used are the wood, bark and leaves.
Timber & Economic Uses
Shisham is best known for:
- Premium furniture
- Flooring
- Musical instruments
- Plywood
- Skin ailments (bark)
What the Wood Is Used For
- Solid furniture, cabinets and carvings.
- Musical instruments and flooring.
- Leaves as fodder; the tree as shade along roads.
How to Grow Shisham
| ☀️ Sunlight | Full sun. |
| 💧 Watering | Moderate; drought tolerant once established. |
| 🪴 Soil | Sandy, alluvial river soil. |
| 🌱 Propagation | Seeds, root suckers or stump cuttings. |
| 📅 When to plant (India) | Plant at the start of the monsoon. |
| 🏡 In pots / at home | Not suitable for pots. |
Precautions & Safety
- Shisham dieback disease has killed many trees in north India — buy plants from reliable nurseries.
- Felling rules vary by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by the WhyOnPlanet editorial team · Last updated October 2026