Aromatic Curry Leaf Tree

The Curry Leaf Tree (Murraya koenigii) is a delightful and highly useful plant, native to India and Sri Lanka. I have included this plant in my herb section due to its culinary properties but, in reality, it will grow into a small tree.

The fragrant leaves liberate their aroma when brushed, and we find the leaves a wonderful ingredient of our regular and varied Malaysian curry dishes.

We were lucky enough to have been given some small plants by friends as house-warming gifts. By accident we discovered that one of the plants loved its semi-shaded position, whereas the second plant really struggled through its first summer to thrive in a full-sun position, necessitating its removal. Now, both plants grow happily side-by-side where only morning sun is available, handy to our kitchen. 

Once established, the Curry Leaf Tree will produce white flowers followed by attractive red, then black berries. We have read that the seeds contained within the shiny black berries will sprout provided that they have not begun to shrivel, and that it is best to remove the surrounding flesh to facilitate sprouting... an experiment for next spring.

The black berries of the Curry Leaf plant appear through summer and into early autumn

Wishing you hours of enjoyment and contentment in your garden…