Plants are one of the few areas where the Brihat Samhita says something definite. Its chapter on house-building has verses on which trees to avoid near a house, which to plant, and what to do if a troublesome tree cannot be removed (53.85 to 53.87). The popular rules about tulsi, money plants, cactus and the north-east garden are a later layer. This page keeps the two apart, and then gives practical advice for a garden, a balcony or a windowsill.
What the Brihat Samhita says about trees
The classical verses are few and specific.
- Four large trees are named, the laksha (Ficus virens), the banyan, the udumbara and the ashvattha. Each is described as troublesome on one side of a house and favourable on the opposite side: on the south, west, north and east respectively for the trouble (53.85).
- Thorny trees near a house are linked with fear of enemies, milky trees with waste of wealth, and fruit trees with the death of children (53.86). The first is a fair caution about thorns. The last reads oddly for a fruit tree, and we report it without endorsing it.
- If a troublesome tree cannot be removed, the text says to plant good trees between the tree and the house, and names seven (53.87).
The remedy is worth noticing. The tradition’s answer to a tree you cannot cut is to plant, not to demolish or buy something. The plot shape, slope and surroundings page discusses the same verses.
What modern guides add
| Suggestion | Source | Plain reading |
|---|---|---|
| Tall trees on the south and west of the plot | Modern | Shade on the hot sides; heavy side |
| Lighter plants and a lawn in the north and east | Modern | Keep light and view open |
| Tulsi in the north-east or east, in the courtyard or balcony | Tradition and modern | A household custom, not found in the texts read |
| No thorny plants or cactus near the entrance | Modern | Echoes 53.86 on thorny trees |
| No big tree close to the house wall | Modern and practical | Roots and falling branches |
| Money plant in the south-east or north | Modern | A popular object, not in the texts |
| Bonsai and dry plants indoors discouraged | Modern | Taste |
| Water feature in the north-east of the garden | Modern | Echoes the water verse (53.119) |
The thorny-plant rule is the only one with a verse close behind it. The Brihat Samhita’s caution is about thorny trees near the house (53.86), and a rose or a cactus in a pot is not a tree, so the extension is an interpretation. The practical point holds, since thorns near a door and path are a nuisance and a danger to children.
Tulsi
The tulsi, or holy basil, is kept in many Hindu households, in a pot or a raised stand in the courtyard, with a lamp lit at its foot in the evening. It is an old and loved custom. We did not find it in the verses of the Brihat Samhita or the Manasara summary read for this site, and we do not claim a text for it. Popular Vastu says east or north-east, in the light. As a plant it needs sun, regular water and drainage, so the east or north-east of a balcony suits it for practical reasons.
Indoor plants
Indoor plants are a modern addition, and there is no classical rule. A few practical notes:
- Most need bright indirect light, so put them near a window.
- A saucer under each pot prevents damp floors, and a stand keeps them off the marble.
- Choose plants that suit your climate and your care. A neglected plant is worse than none.
- Keep plants away from the bedroom head if pollen or damp is a concern, and out of reach of toddlers and pets if they are toxic.
- Do not crowd a room. A few well-placed plants look better than a jungle.
The popular claim that certain plants bring wealth or remove negative energy is not found in the texts we read, and this site does not recommend any plant as a remedy.
A garden plan
For a house with a plot:
- Keep the middle open. A lawn or paving at the centre echoes the old care of the central squares (53.66) in the garden.
- Shade on the hot sides. Large trees on the south and west, set well back from the wall and the roof.
- Light planting to the north and east. Shrubs, flower beds and a path.
- Fruit and shade. A few fruit trees are a pleasure. Pick species suited to your region, and place them away from the house wall.
- Path and light. A clear path from the gate, lit at night.
- Safety. No loose branches over the roof, no poisonous plants where children play.
Flats and balconies
In a flat, a few pots on a balcony or a windowsill are enough. See the balcony page for the layout. Use light plants on the north and east and heavier planters in the south-west corner, if you wish to follow the modern chart. The apartments page describes what carries over to a flat.
What cannot be changed, and what helps
If a large tree stands in the south-east or north of your plot, or a banyan or peepal grows close to your wall, you do not need to fell it. The Brihat Samhita’s own advice for a tree that cannot be removed is to plant good trees between (53.87), and a sacred tree is a living thing that many people would rather keep. Check that its roots do not damage the foundation or drains. Steps that cost little:
- Prune branches over the roof.
- Keep leaf litter out of gutters.
- Plant a line of shrubs or a creeper between the tree and the house.
- Water and feed what you keep, and replace what has died.
See remedies without demolition, where planting between is listed among the classical cures, and the room-by-room table for the chart.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does the Brihat Samhita say about trees near a house?
It names four large trees as troublesome on certain sides (53.85), cautions about thorny, milky and fruit trees (53.86) and says to plant good trees between if one cannot be removed (53.87). It does not give the rules for tulsi or money plants.
↳ Where should tulsi be kept in Vastu?
Popular guides say the east or north-east, in the light, in a pot or stand. It is a household custom that we did not find in the texts read for this site. Sun and regular water are what the plant needs.
↳ Should I cut a big tree near my house?
Not because of Vastu alone. The Brihat Samhita suggests planting good trees between if a tree cannot be removed (53.87). Check that the roots and branches are not a risk to the structure.
↳ Are cactus and thorny plants bad in Vastu?
Popular guides advise against them near the entrance. The classical verse cautions about thorny trees near a house (53.86). A cactus in a pot is a modern extension, and the practical issue is safety near doors and paths.
Sources
- Varahamihira, Brihat Samhita, chapter 53, verses 66, 85 to 87 and 119, in the English translations of Iyer and Sastri.
- The tulsi custom, the indoor plant rules and the money plant are modern or household tradition and are not traced to a verse in the texts read for this site.