Molokhia (jute mallow)
Corchorus olitorius
Egypt's beloved summer green, chopped fine into a silky soup; loves heat.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 4 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
Harvest: June to September
From: N. Africa and tropical Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: Sahara & Arabian deserts, African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 6 to 12.
The story
Molokhia has been Egypt's green since the pharaohs, stewed into a thick garlicky soup eaten with rabbit or chicken; a 10th-century caliph is said to have banned it, and Egyptians have eaten it in defiance ever since. It is also a staple across West Africa and the Levant.
Planting
Full sun, rich moist soil, and heat; sow directly after the soil warms, thinly, and thin to 6 inches. It grows 4 feet in a hot summer.
Growing
Water and feed generously; cut the tops often to keep it leafy. It bolts in cool weather.
Harvest and use
Pick young leaves and tips through summer; strip from the stems and chop fine, fresh or frozen. Dried leaves keep all winter.
What to watch for
Cool weather and whitefly.
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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