Kadamba is a tall, robust, deciduous tree with a straight trunk. The crown is umbrella shaped and the branches are characteristically arranged in tiers.

The fragrant flowers look like Christmas decorations, the inflorescences globosely arranged in deep orange clusters. The fruits are a sombre orange in colour, with several small seeds. Bats love to feast on them, thus helping to disperse the seeds.

A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree.

This tree is known to have pharmacological and biological properties. It can be used as an alternative to various synthetic chemical compounds in the prevention as well as the treatment of several incurable diseases. More than 100 years of research has been done to discover various phytochemicals and their implications.

In Hindu mythology, Kadam was the favourite tree of Krishna.