Bael (stone apple) Aegle marmelos
Bael (stone apple) (Aegle marmelos) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Rutaceae family, native to Indian subcontinent. It grows 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall and 5–9 m (16–30 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -7 °C (19 °F). Space plants about 8 m (26 ft) apart.
Plan Bael (stone apple) in your garden →
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Bael (stone apple) at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Mature height | 8–15 m (26–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–9 m (16–30 ft) |
| Spacing | 8 m (26 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -7 °C (19 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 48 °C (118 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: fruit pulp (as sherbet or eaten fresh) |
| Native to | Indian subcontinent |
| Common in gardens of | 🇮🇳 India |
Is Bael (stone apple) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Bael (stone apple)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Sweet orange: Asian citrus psyllid spreads huanglongbing (citrus greening) between citrus and relatives such as orange jasmine (Murraya). Keep new citrus away from infected or neglected hosts. Evidence B
Questions about Bael (stone apple)
- How far apart should I plant Bael (stone apple)?
- About 8 m (26 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–9 m (16–30 ft).
- Does Bael (stone apple) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Bael (stone apple) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Bael (stone apple)?
- It tolerates about -7 °C (19 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does Bael (stone apple) flower?
- From about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Bael (stone apple) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Bael (stone apple)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Bael (stone apple). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- India Biodiversity Portal (species pages), India Biodiversity Portal
- Plants For A Future database, PFAF
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Trifoliate leaves are offered to Shiva; the hard-shelled fruit takes about 11 months to ripen.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon tree (dwarf) Citrus limon
- Curry tree Murraya koenigii
- Kaffir lime Citrus hystrix
- Common rue Ruta graveolens
- Sweet orange Citrus x sinensis
- Mandarin orange Citrus reticulata
- Persian lime Citrus x latifolia
- Key lime Citrus x aurantiifolia