Agar Wood
Aquilaria malaccensis
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
Pl. B284 — Aquilaria malaccensis
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IOverview
Overview
Agar Wood, scientifically known as Aquilaria malaccensis, is a tree native to regions including Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, East Himalaya, Malaya, Myanmar, Philippines, Sumatera, and Thailand. This tree thrives in moist environments with light to partial sun exposure and can grow up to 20 meters tall. It is known for its edible inner bark and seeds, making it valuable both as a food source and an ornamental plant. One distinctive feature of this species is its ability to produce agarwood, a highly prized resin used in perfumery and traditional medicine, though the data provided does not indicate its medicinal uses directly.
Quick answers
What is Agar Wood?
Agar Wood, scientifically known as Aquilaria malaccensis, is a tree native to regions including Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, East Himalaya, Malaya, Myanmar, Philippines, Sumatera, and Thailand. This tree thrives in moist environments with light to partial sun exposure and can grow up to 20 meters tall.
What is Agar Wood used for?
Traditionally used for immune support, stress & anxiety. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 2 evidence-ranked uses of Agar Wood
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
2 claims · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
2 claims · 0 sources- Traditionally used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Agar Wood supports immune health through its antimicrobial properties. It is often prepared as a decoction or incense.
The mechanism involves the presence of sesquiterpenes which have been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against various pathogens.
- Traditional-use note: Agar Wood appears in herbal sources around calming and relaxation traditions, often as a aromatherapy. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Energizing Focus
focustincture
Historically used to enhance mental clarity and focus.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Agar Wood (Aquilaria malaccensis) thrives in full to partial sun and prefers moist soil that is light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It grows well in temperate regions with a hardiness range of 10-12. The plant can reach heights of up to 20 meters. For propagation, inner bark and seeds are viable methods. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist for best results.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
10-12
Mature size
20.0 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Agar Wood for the first time
8steps
Start with a simple planting approach to grow Agar Wood as an ornamental tree.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or young saplings, potting mix suitable for trees, containers if planting in pots.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant seeds or transplant young saplings during the rainy season when moisture is abundant.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use a well-draining soil mix with equal parts of sand, loam, and peat. Ensure containers have drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
For seeds, sow them 1 cm deep in the potting mix. For saplings, dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Place in partial shade to avoid direct sunlight.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Provide light to moderate shade and fertilize with a balanced tree fertilizer once a year.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune young trees to shape them. Harvest inner bark after the tree is 10 years old for agarwood production.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in full sun, using heavy clay soil, neglecting regular pruning, and not providing enough shade.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:Inner barkSeed
Edible uses: Condiment
Other uses:ContainersCosmeticFiberFragranceResinWeaving materialLumber
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
10 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
10 native · 0 introducedDistribution across1 continent· 10 native
Asia6 regions
native (6)BangladeshIndiaMyanmarPhilippinesThailandVietnam
Broader regions
native:Borneo, East Himalaya, Malaya, Sumatera
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
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- Citation
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