A perennial herb with strong, fragrant roots. It grows naturally at high elevations in the Himalaya mountains and extends into western Asia. People dry the roots and the fuzzy, spike-shaped young stems before the leaves open. These dried parts are used to make perfume.
In India, people still use nard as a perfume for hair. There is good evidence that the spikenard mentioned in the Bible originally came from India (Song of Solomon 1:12; 4:13–14; Mark 14:3; John 12:3).