Regions: East India

One tree feeds a street. Green for sabzi, ripe for the sweetest fruit there is.

The most forgiving fruit tree for a small Indian garden or a big pot.

Fruit inside a year from seed — the fastest fruit a household can grow.

A single sucker in a corner gives shade, cooking leaves and, in time, fruit.

A thorny slow tree of dry country with a hard-shelled sour fruit.

A cement tub of still water becomes a dragonfly habitat in one season.

The national flower — a big tub, full sun and patience is all it takes.

The kewda of Odisha — spiny leaves and a male flower distilled for scent.

Flowers open white and turn crimson over three days; scents a whole verandah.

Purple trumpet flushes twice a year, and leaves that smell of garlic when crushed.