Explore Plants
Indian plants documented for the way people actually garden — filter by what you want the plant to do, the space you have, the month you can sow and the region you are in. The result count below is live.
Use the filters on the plant archive to narrow by goal, growing space and season. Every record carries a Hindi name, a botanical name, a care note and the months in which to sow.
21 plants match your filters Answer three questions on the home page — your region, your space and your goal — and we will name two plants to sow this month.Filters3 on
Arabian JasmineमोगराJasminum sambacA pot by an open window does more for a summer evening than any air freshener.
Chinese Hibiscusगुड़हलHibiscus rosa-sinensisFlowers nearly all year in a warm city, and sunbirds find it within a week.
HennaमेहंदीLawsonia inermisThe mehndi hedge of the dry west — scented flowers and dye leaves.
TecomaतेकोमाTecoma stansYellow bells almost all year on a shrub that survives a forgotten terrace.
Water LilyकुमुदिनीNymphaea nouchaliA cement tub of still water becomes a dragonfly habitat in one season.
LotusकमलNelumbo nuciferaThe national flower — a big tub, full sun and patience is all it takes.
Frangipani WhiteगुलचीनPlumeria albaThe white frangipani of temple gardens, tougher than the pink and just as scented.
Portulacaकुल्फा फूलPortulaca grandifloraOpens in full sun on a terrace where nothing else will survive noon.
VincaसदाबहारCatharanthus roseusFlowers every day of the year and asks for nothing. Indigenous to the deccan.
Ixoraरुग्मिनीIxora coccineaCompact evergreen with flower heads butterflies work all morning.
TuberoseरजनीगंधाAgave amicaBulbs planted in March give heavily scented white spikes through the monsoon.
Marvel of Peruगुल-ए-बासMirabilis jalapaOpens at four in the afternoon and self-sows itself around the garden.
Cockscombलाल मुर्गाCelosia argenteaVelvet crested heads that hold colour for weeks, in sun or half shade.
Zinniaजिन्नियाZinnia elegansThe most reliable cut flower for an Indian summer terrace.
SunflowerसूरजमुखीHelianthus annuusA fortnight of spectacle and then a head of seed the birds will take.
Hibiscusगुड़हलHibiscus rosa-sinensisFlowers nearly all year in a warm city, and sunbirds find it within a week.
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