Premna

Premna serratifolia – Glossy Spreading Shrub, medicinal valuable tree.

Native to Australia, indian and paste of Asia.

Headache Tree – most widely used, from its folk use in treating headaches.

Agnimantha – often carried straight from Sanskrit into English Ayurveda texts.

Coastal Premna – used in botanic gardens and landscaping references.

False Elder – occasional name, since its foliage resembles elder (Sambucus).

Black Premna – sometimes used because of its dark berries.

Premna serratifolia is a hardy, large spreading shrub with attractive glossy, leathery leaves. In summer it produces showy clusters of cream-white flowers, followed by shiny black berries that attract birds and wildlife. An excellent choice for tropical and subtropical gardens, it provides shade, habitat, and year-round greenery.

Features:

Fast-growing, large spreading shrub

Glossy, leathery evergreen leaves

Clusters of cream-white flowers in season

Black berries loved by birds

Hardy and low-maintenance

Growing Info:

Position: Full sun to part shade

Height: 3–5 m (can be pruned smaller)

Tolerates coastal conditions and a range of soils

Excellent for hedges, screens, or feature planting

A versatile and attractive shrub that thrives in warm climates, bringing both beauty and wildlife into your garden.

Edibility for people: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Small, black drupes with very little flesh, bitter or bland. Traditionally not eaten as a fruit crop.

Wildlife value: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Birds (especially pigeons, bulbuls, starlings) eat the berries readily and help spread the seeds.

Ornamental value: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

The clusters of berries can look attractive, especially against the glossy foliage.

Medicinal/Traditional uses: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Leaves, bark, and roots are widely used in Ayurveda and folk medicine.

Valued medicinal plant in Ayurveda (where it’s one of the Dashamoola group of ten roots). 

LOCAL NAMES

Sanskrit: Agnimantha (अग्निमन्थ), Arani

Hindi: Arni (अरणी)

Marathi: Arni

Gujarati: Arni

Tamil: Munneri, Thalai-ari, Vellai-munnir

Telugu: Munnaga, Munnara

Kannada: Munneri, Munnare

Malayalam: Munneri, Arani

Bengali: Arani

Oriya (Odia): Arani

Assamese: Gani