Vastu of Plants and Trees:

Vastu is a vast subject that not only covers the inside of your house but also the temple, Shiv linga, pillars, water bodies and Gardens. In today’s lifestyle of studios, apartments and flats it is hard to imagine for some that Vastu can even be applied for Gardens. Infact, this is so out of the context in our times that many vastu veterans would not give a moment to consider this.

Remember PanchVati of Ramayam? The word PanchVati has been so overused that one may find a panchvati garden in almost every city/town and maybe some even without trees !!! PanchVati is a garden with 5 Major trees i.e. Alma (Indian Gooseberry), Neem, Peepal, Bilva and obviously Vaat (Banyan tree). These five are part of a larger group of 27 trees with each tree being representative of 27 nakshatra of the moon. The depth in which Indian heritage covers things is really savvy !!!

Let us have list of some trees and know the directions in which they are recommended in a garden setting:

1)     Peepal:
West is Best. Don’t plant Peepal in the East side of your garden.

2)     Amla (Indian Gooseberry):
Any Direction.

3)     Bilva:
Any Direction.

4)     Coconut:
Any Direction.

5)     Tulsi:
Any Direction.

6)     Chameli:
Any Direction.

7)     Emli:
Not to be planted in the garden.

8)     Bamboo:
Not to be planted in the garden. People are fond of planting tiny bamboo plants in houses in the name of vastu, home décor and greenery but real vastu says otherwise. Actually, bamboo is considered lucky as per Feng Shui and gradually made to market in India by rebranding as vastu compliant décor.

9)     Ber (बेर):
Not to be planted in the garden. Seriously, this is not the kind of plant you want to be under for a long time, especially during sunrise and sunset.

10)  Papaya:
Not to be planted in the garden.

11)  Palash:
Not to be planted in the garden. This is the same plant whose flowers are traditionally used in Holi to make colors and whose wood is used in certain types of Havan.

12)  Babul:
Not to be planted in the garden.

13)  Jamun:
Can be planted in North, East and South.

14)  Anar (Pomegranate):
Can be planted in the South-East and South West.

15)  Banana:
Can be planted in any direction as long as there is a Tulsi nearby.

16)  Chandan (Sandal):
Can be planted in the West and South. Not to be planted in the East.

17)  Banyan Tree:
East is Best. Don’t plant a Banyan Tree on the West side of your garden.

18)  Kaner/Caner:
Can be planted in the North or East. Do not plant in the west.

19)  Neem:
Best direction to plant Neem is North-West.  This brings immense prosperity. Neem must be avoided especially in South-East Direction.