🥑 Moringa
Moringa oleifera
exotics Perennial
M
☀️ Sun
Full sun
💧 Water
Low to moderate; extremely drought-tolerant once established
🗺️ Zones
9–11 (can be grown as annual in cooler zones)
🪴 Soil Type
Well-draining sandy or loamy soil; tolerates poor soils
🧪 Soil pH
5.0–9.0
💧 Drainage
Well-draining (roots rot in soggy soil)
📏 Spacing
6–10 ft (or 3 ft for intensive leaf production)
📐 Height
15–35 ft (can be pruned to 6–10 ft)
📅 Days to Maturity
240–365 (8–12 months for leaf harvest)
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Leaves🍽️ young pods (drumsticks)🍽️ flowers🍽️ seeds🍽️ roots (caution)🍽️ seed oil
🤝 Companions (7)
Nutrient accumulator, mulch
🤝 Marigold
Pest deterrent
🤝 Pigeon Pea
Nitrogen fixer, windbreak
Ground cover
Pest repellent
General companion, pest deterrent
Shade-tolerant understory
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
💊 Medicinal Uses
Nutrient-dense superfood; 7x vitamin C of oranges; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant; lowers blood sugar; antimicrobial; 90+ nutrients.
📜 History & Traditional Uses
Native to Himalayan foothills; used in Ayurvedic medicine for 300+ conditions; called 'Miracle Tree'; used for water purification via seeds.
📝 Notes
Fast-growing drought-resistant tree; can be coppiced for leaf production; frost-sensitive but regrows from roots; seeds used for water purification (flocculation).