Senegalia rugata, commonly known as Shikakai, is a spiny climbing shrub native to tropical Asia, including China and India, where it is commonly found in dry deciduous forests and thorny scrublands, often near watercourses. It is a valuable plant in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and is renowned for its use in natural hair care products. Senegalia rugata typically grows to a height of 6-10 meters with a climbing habit that allows it to reach sunlight by using other vegetation for support. Its branches bear sharp spines, and the leaves are bipinnately compound, adding a fine-textured appearance to the plant.

Shikakai is celebrated for its small, pale-yellow to white flowers that bloom in dense axillary spikes, which are followed by flat, brown, bean-like fruit pods. The flowers are not particularly showy but are fragrant and attract pollinators. In cultivation, it is valued for its use in producing natural shampoo from its fruit pods, which are rich in saponins. The young shoots are also edible and are consumed in some cultures. Shikakai thrives in full sun to partial shade, requires moderate water, and prefers well-drained soils. It is often used in reforestation projects and as a living fence due to its spiny nature. However, gardeners should be cautious as it can become invasive outside its native range, spreading through its seed pods.CC BY-SA 4.0