Plant library
Explore Plants
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Resurrection FernसंजीवनीSelaginella bryopterisThe sanjeevani of the rocks — curls up bone dry, then greens again in an hour of rain.
Chow Chowइस्कुसSechium eduleThe squash that covers a whole roof in one season across the eastern hills.Kodo MilletकोदोPaspalum scrobiculatumThe kodo of the Deccan and central hills — drought-proof and long-storing.Silver Fernचांदी फर्नPityrogramma calomelanosA white-backed fern that colonises damp walls and cut slopes on its own.VanillaवनीलाVanilla planifoliaA climbing orchid that must be hand-pollinated flower by flower, at dawn.Black Pepper Vineकाली मिर्चPiper nigrumThe vine that made the Malabar coast; needs a tree to climb and constant humidity.Wild Riceजंगली चावलOryza rufipogonThe wild ancestor of cultivated rice, still standing in eastern wetlands.RiceधानOryza sativaHalf the country’s calories — and a bucket of it on a terrace teaches more than any book.
NeelakurinjiनीलकुरिंजीStrobilanthes kunthianaThe shrub that turns the Nilgiri slopes blue once every twelve years, then dies.Malabar Glory LilyकलिहारीGloriosa superbaFlame-red reflexed petals on a climbing lily — the state flower of Tamil Nadu.
Malabar TamarindकुडमपुलीGarcinia gummi-guttaThe souring fruit of Kerala fish curry, dried black and kept all year.Wild Nutmegजंगली जायफलMyristica malabaricaThe Malabar nutmeg of swampy Ghats forest — a myristica swamp indicator species.Malabar Plumजामुन कोकमSyzygium caryophyllatumA small-fruited endemic jamun of the southern hills, cropping through the monsoon.Indian Laburnum VineकोरलThunbergia mysorensisLong hanging chains of maroon and yellow flowers — the Mysore clock vine.Ceylon Ironwoodपुन्नागMesua thwaitesiiA tall wet-evergreen tree of the southern Ghats, red-flushed in new leaf.Culleniaकुल्लेनियाCullenia exarillataThe canopy tree that feeds the lion-tailed macaque; endemic to the southern Ghats.Not sure where to start?
Answer three questions on the home page — your region, your space and your goal — and we will name two plants to sow this month.
How the library is organised
By regionEach entry notes where the plant grows well across India, from the Gangetic plain to coastal soils.
By seasonSowing windows for every month, so you never plant a winter green in May.
By spaceWindowsill, balcony, terrace or ground — filtered so you only see what will survive with you.
Checked by a botanistNames and facts are reviewed before publication; traditional uses are labelled as traditional.