Native plants of the South & Southeast Asian tropics
These 95 plants belong to the South & Southeast Asian tropics. They were here before the gardens were: they know the weather, live on the rain that falls, and feed the insects and birds that grew up alongside them. Plant a few and your yard starts to fit its place.
Signature plant: Black pepper, native here and in no other world region on this list.
Fruit trees (5)
- Bael · zones 9–12
- Ber (Indian jujube) · zones 9–12
- Khejri · zones 10–12
- Lapsi (Nepali hog plum) · zones 8–11
- Wood apple · zones 10–12
Berries and small fruit (3)
Nut trees (4)
- Katus (Indian chestnut) · zones 9–11
- Kukui (candlenut) · zones 10–12
- Pili nut · zones 11–12
- Tahitian chestnut (mape, ivi) · zones 11–12
Tropical and subtropical food plants (32)
- Ambarella (vī) · zones 10–12
- Amla (Indian gooseberry) · zones 10–12
- Banana · zones 9–11
- Betel leaf (paan) · zones 10–12
- Black pepper · zones 11–12
- Breadfruit · zones 11–12
- Cardamom · zones 10–12
- Cinnamon · zones 10–12
- Clove · zones 11–12
- Durian · zones 11–12
- Jackfruit · zones 10–12
- Jamun · zones 10–12
- Kokum · zones 10–12
- Long pepper (pippali) · zones 10–12
- Longan · zones 10–11
- Makrut lime · zones 10–12
- Malabar tamarind (kudampuli) · zones 10–12
- Mango · zones 10–12
- Mangosteen · zones 11–12
- Mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻai) · zones 10–12
- Nipa palm (golpata) · zones 11–12
- Noni (Tahitian noni) · zones 10–12
- Nutmeg · zones 11–12
- Pandanus (screwpine) · zones 10–12
- Plantain (cooking banana) · zones 9–12
- Pomelo · zones 9–11
- Rambutan · zones 11–12
- Sago palm · zones 11–12
- Star anise · zones 8–10
- Starfruit · zones 9–11
- Taun (Pacific lychee) · zones 11–12
- Timla (Roxburgh fig) · zones 9–11
Perennial vegetables, greens and herbs (24)
- Aibika (island cabbage) · zones 10–12
- Ashwagandha · zones 8–11
- Brahmi (water hyssop) · zones 9–12
- Curry leaf · zones 10–12
- Drumstick (moringa, for pods) · zones 9–12
- Elephant foot yam (suran) · zones 10–12
- Galangal · zones 9–12
- Ginger · zones 9–12
- Gotu kola · zones 8–12
- Guduchi (giloy) · zones 10–12
- Katuk · zones 10–12
- Lemongrass · zones 10–12
- Lotus (root and seeds) · zones 5–11
- Moringa · zones 9–11
- Shatavari · zones 9–12
- Sugarcane · zones 9–12
- Taro · zones 9–11
- Tea · zones 7–9
- Tejpat (Indian bay leaf) · zones 9–11
- Ti (kī) · zones 10–12
- Tulip (gnetum) · zones 11–12
- Tulsi (holy basil) · zones 9–12
- Turmeric · zones 9–12
- Yam (uhi) · zones 9–12
Annual vegetables, herbs and grains (19)
- Ajwain (carom) · zones 5–11
- Basil · zones 2–11
- Bitter gourd (karela) · zones 8–12
- Bottle gourd (lauki) · zones 6–12
- Chickpea (chana) · zones 4–11
- Cucumber · zones 2–11
- Cumin · zones 5–11
- Eggplant · zones 2–11
- Fenugreek (methi) · zones 4–11
- Finger millet (ragi) · zones 7–12
- Kalmegh (green chiretta) · zones 6–11
- Lentil · zones 4–10
- Mung bean (moong) · zones 6–12
- Pearl millet (bajra) · zones 7–12
- Rice · zones 6–12
- Ridge gourd (turai) · zones 8–12
- Sesame (til) · zones 7–12
- Winged bean · zones 9–12
- Yardlong bean · zones 5–12
Native and wild plants (3)
- Padam (wild Himalayan cherry) · zones 8–10
- Sundari (mangrove) · zones 11–12
- Wild date palm (khejur) · zones 9–12
Helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass (5)
- Arjuna · zones 10–12
- Neem · zones 10–12
- Pigeon pea · zones 9–12
- Tree cotton · zones 8–12
- Vetiver · zones 8–12
Open the natives of South & Southeast Asian tropics in the planner
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home