Shade of flowering tree in India, during visit to north (5)
I believe the answer is:
lilac
'shade of flowering tree in' is the definition.
'lilac' can be an answer for 'shade' (lilac is a shade of purple). I'm not sure about the 'of flowering tree in' bit.
'india during visit to north' is the wordplay.
'india' becomes 'i' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'during' is an insertion indicator.
'visit' becomes 'call' (synonyms).
'to north' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up or 'north').
'i' put inside 'call' is 'calil'.
'calil' backwards is 'LILAC'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lilac that I've seen before include "Fragrant shrub; colour" , "Lavender-coloured" , "Genus Syringa shrub" , "Drop by about one, turning" , "garden ornamental" .)