Regions: east

A monsoon climber that will roof a terrace in eight weeks if you give it a frame.

Regrows from the root end of a shop-bought bunch — the cheapest crop in the house.

A pot by an open window does more for a summer evening than any air freshener.

Grows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; flowers scent a whole terrace.

A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet.

The fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, with edible leaves and pods.

Cut-and-come-again greens for a kitchen garden — ready in six weeks from a shallow trough.

A hardy monsoon spreader with long traditional use, easy to grow and valuable for small insects.

Grows from a cutting in a glass of water. Keep it in its own pot — it will take over any other.

A clump of scented grass that mosquitoes avoid and tea drinkers cannot do without.