Plant library
What can I grow now?
40 plants can be sown in April in Himalaya & the hills. Narrow it further by space, goal or region — or step through the months below.
Frost, snow and a short season. Sow six to eight weeks earlier than the plains, and only frost-hardy kinds.
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AlderउतीसAlnus nepalensisA nitrogen-fixing pioneer of Himalayan landslides and north-eastern jhum fallows.
Amaranth GrainरामदानाAmaranthus cruentusGrown for seed rather than leaf; magenta heads over the whole monsoon.
Assam TeaचायCamellia sinensis var. assamicaThe tea of the Brahmaputra valley — one bush on a balcony is enough for a pot.Bamboo Shoot Speciesबांस करीलDendrocalamus hamiltoniiThe north-eastern shoot bamboo — fermented shoots are a regional staple.Barnyard MilletसांवाEchinochloa frumentaceaA hill millet that tolerates waterlogging better than any other grain.Bay Leaf Treeतेजपत्ताCinnamomum tamalaThe tejpatta of the sub-Himalayan tract — three-veined leaves, straight off the tree.Blue Vandaनील ऑर्किडVanda coeruleaThe blue vanda of Meghalaya — tessellated flowers, and protected in the wild.Bottle BrushचीलCallistemon citrinusRed brushes of stamens on drooping branches; a hardy naturalised garden tree.Buckwheatकुट्टूFagopyrum esculentumA Himalayan pseudo-grain that flowers white and feeds every bee for miles.
Cardamom Largeबड़ी इलायचीAmomum subulatumBlack cardamom of Sikkim — deep shade under alder, at hill altitudes.CheuraचिउराAesandra butyraceaThe Himalayan butter tree, giving cooking fat and an enormous honey flow.Chinese Hat Plantटोपी फूलHolmskioldia sanguineaA sub-Himalayan scrambler with brick-red bracts through the cool months.Chow Chowइस्कुसSechium eduleThe squash that covers a whole roof in one season across the eastern hills.DendrobiumसंचारीDendrobium nobileCane orchid of the eastern hills, flowering along last year’s bare canes.Finger MilletरागीEleusine coracanaA tough small-grained millet of the southern and Himalayan hills.Ginger Lilyकपूर कचरीHedychium spicatumA Himalayan ginger relative with scented white flowers and aromatic rhizomes.