Moringa
Moringa oleifera
Botanical family: Moringaceae
Moringa oleifera, native to the Indian subcontinent, is grown in the tropics for its leaves, pods, and seeds, used traditionally in the food and folk medicine of South Asia and Africa. In mainland France, it does not survive outdoors in winter and is grown in a pot, brought in at the first cool spells.
Full sun
Warm, dry to medium, well-drained
Low once established, tolerates drought well
Not hardy (freezes below 0 °C; tropical/subtropical, in a pot in our climates)
Frost-tender in your zone
Role in permaculture
A very fast-growing tropical tree, grown for its nutrient-rich edible leaves and for its traditional use as a foliar fertilising liquid. In a tropical climate, it is sometimes planted in combination for its light shade and its ability to regrow vigorously after a severe pruning.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Insects attracted or useful
Seasons & availability
A fast-growing tropical tree, grown in a pot or under glass in our climates: young leaves and pods in the warm season; it suffers in the cold.
Available: June, July, August, September, October.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Moringa is not the subject of any EMA/HMPC or WHO monograph: its health effects are not solidly established and this fact sheet does not replace medical advice. The bark and especially the root are not to be eaten (unlike the leaves): far more concentrated in active compounds, they are traditionally considered abortifacient. Caution is called for with concentrated extracts and supplements, notably during pregnancy and breastfeeding, for lack of sufficient toxicological data: seek the advice of a health professional before any regular use.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Keep in mind
Moringa is the subject of many 'superfood' claims in the popular press. Its leaves are traditionally eaten as a micronutrient-rich leaf vegetable in South Asia and Africa; commercial promises go well beyond this food use.
A note on rigour: many companion pairings are gardening folklore; this note sums up what the sources say, where there are any.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: warm, dry to medium, well-drained.