TreeRM

Moringa

Moringa oleifera 路 Moringaceae 路 also Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Ben oil tree

A small, fast, deciduous tree to about 8 m with an open umbrella crown, feathery leaves and long 'drumstick' pods. Its leaves are an exceptionally nutritious vegetable, the pods and seed oil are edible and crushed seed clarifies dirty water, so it is planted in home gardens and nutrition programmes across Africa and South Asia. The wood is soft and the tree is short-lived, but it resprouts after cutting or frost.

Broadleaf, drops leavesFast growingFull sunLow water
Moringa
Wikimedia Commons, file DrumstickFlower.jpg (see file page for author and licence)

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚠馃嚦 India 路 Sub-Himalayan north-west Indiasource
  • 馃嚨馃嚢 Pakistansource

Adapted

  • 馃嚜馃嚬 Ethiopia 路 Introduced; widely planted for foodsource
  • 馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya 路 Introducedsource
  • 馃嚦馃嚞 Nigeria 路 Introducedsource
  • 馃嚫馃嚦 Senegal 路 Introducedsource
  • 馃嚬馃嚳 Tanzania 路 Introducedsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 FL, United States 路 Introduced per WCVP; not on the FISC listsource

Care

Sow or plant cuttings at the start of the rains; it reaches 2.5 m in one to three months. Top regularly at 1.5 m to keep leaves within reach and the tree bushy. Water in prolonged drought for better leaf yield. Root rot in wet ground, powdery mildew and hairy caterpillars are the main problems. A freeze kills it to the ground but it regrows.

Benefits

EdibleFast canopyDrought tolerantFits small spacesPollinators

Good for

FoodSmall yardAgroforestryHedgerow

Watch out for

Weak woodShort lived