Sandalwood (Santalum album) | seeds, 10 pcs.

• Latin name: Santalum album
• Danish names: Sandeltræ, ægte sandeltræ
• English names: Sandalwood, Indian sandalwood

Santalum album is the true sandalwood – one of the world's most famous and sought-after tree species, known for its aromatic heartwood, which has been used for millennia in incense, perfume, religious rituals, and traditional medicine. The species is originally from India and Southeast Asia, but is today rare in the wild due to intensive exploitation and strict regulation.

The tree is evergreen and develops narrow to elliptical, glossy green leaves as well as small, inconspicuous flowers, which later form dark fruits. The characteristic sandalwood scent only develops in the older heartwood and is therefore something that only appears after many years of growth – even in cultivation.

A special plant: hemiparasite

Santalum album is a hemiparasitic species, which means that in nature it grows with roots that partially attach to other plants to absorb water and nutrients. It performs photosynthesis itself, but thrives best in interaction with a host plant – an important detail when cultivating from seed.

Cultivation and requirements

Santalum album thrives best in bright light to full sun and prefers:

• well-drained, slightly sandy or mineral soil
• warm and stable temperatures
• moderate watering (does not tolerate standing water)

The plant is not frost-tolerant. In Denmark, it is grown as a container plant that can be kept outdoors during the summer months and overwintered in a bright, frost-free location. The temperature should preferably be kept above 12–15 °C all year round.

For optimal growth, it is recommended to grow the sandalwood tree together with a suitable host plant in the same pot or nearby, e.g., grasses, legumes, or smaller shrubs.

Cultivation from seed (important)

Seeds of Santalum album germinate best when fresh. To increase the germination rate, the following is recommended:

• soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours
• sowing in a well-drained soil mixture
• temperature of 22–28 °C
• keeping the soil slightly moist, but never wet

Germination typically occurs within 2–6 weeks, but can vary and take significantly longer. Young plants grow slowly at first and establish the root system before visible top growth really accelerates. Early access to a host plant is crucial for healthy development.

Utility and collector value

Santalum album is a plant with enormous cultural, historical, and economic significance. The aromatic wood is traditionally used for sandalwood oil, incense, carvings, and perfume, and the scent is known for its warm, soft, and lasting character.

In cultivation, the plant is particularly interesting as a long-term project and collector's plant – a tree that one follows and cultivates over many years. Growing from seed offers the opportunity to experience the entire development from a young plant to a slowly maturing tree with great symbolic value.