Photo: Steve Fitzgerald / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Teak (Sagwan) (Tectona grandis): World-class tropical hardwood — extremely durable, water-resistant, and high-value timber tree.
🔍 Quick Facts
| Common name | Teak (Sagwan) |
| Other names | Sagwan, Sagaun (Hindi); Thekku (Tamil, Malayalam); Teku (Telugu) |
| Scientific name | Tectona grandis |
| Plant family | Lamiaceae (mint family) |
| Size | 30–40 m deciduous tree |
| Native region | South & Southeast Asia |
| Climate | Tropical |
| Ease of growing | Moderate |
| Parts used | Wood, Bark, Leaves |
About Teak
Teak is the world's best-known tropical hardwood, valued for its natural oils that make it resistant to water, termites and rot. The world's oldest teak plantation, Conolly's Plot at Nilambur in Kerala, was planted in 1846 and still stands. Teak was used by the British Navy for shipbuilding. It is now grown widely by farmers in India as a long-term investment crop.
Botanically known as Tectona grandis, it belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is native to South & Southeast Asia and grows best in a tropical climate. The parts most often used are the wood, bark and leaves.
Timber & Economic Uses
Teak is best known for:
- Furniture
- Shipbuilding
- Flooring
- Construction
- Traditional medicine (bark)
What the Wood Is Used For
- Furniture, doors, window frames and flooring.
- Boat-building and decking.
- Plywood veneers and carving.
How to Grow Teak
| ☀️ Sunlight | Full sun. |
| 💧 Watering | Needs a distinct wet and dry season; dislikes waterlogging. |
| 🪴 Soil | Deep, well-drained, fertile alluvial soil. |
| 🌱 Propagation | Stumps (root-shoot cuttings) from nurseries, or tissue-culture plants. |
| 📅 When to plant (India) | Plant at the start of the monsoon. |
| 🏡 In pots / at home | Not suitable for pots. |
Precautions & Safety
- Felling and transporting teak usually needs a permit from the state forest department.
- Fine teak sawdust can cause skin and respiratory irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Further Reading on Teak
Written by the WhyOnPlanet editorial team · Last updated October 2026