Drumstick (moringa, for pods)
Moringa oleifera
Grown for the long pods of sambar and the leaves of the kitchen garden; coppice it low.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 30 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: February to May
From: NW India
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, fixing nitrogen in the soil, pollinators, traditional use, Ayurvedic tradition.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics, Sahara & Arabian deserts. Hardy in zones 9 to 12.
The story
The drumstick tree of northwest India has been grown for its long pods for 3,000 years, the drumsticks of sambar and the leaves of Tamil kitchen gardens; it was planted at every Indian village well as fodder, medicine and water purifier, and Ayurveda names it the miracle tree.
Planting
Full sun, drained soil, heat; plant a cutting or seed in spring. It grows 10 feet a year and dies back at frost, regrowing in zone 9.
Growing
Water modestly; cut back hard yearly to keep pods and leaves in reach. No feeding needed.
Harvest and use
Pick pods at 12 to 18 inches, green and tender, for sambar and curry; leaves any time; flowers for fritters. Seeds from mature pods purify water.
What to watch for
Frost, rot in wet soil, and caterpillars.
Safety
The leaves and pods are everyday food, but don't eat the root or bark: they contain toxic compounds and are linked to miscarriage.
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
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