Regions: East India

The pennywort of damp corners; spreads by runners and asks for shade and moisture.

A small shady-forest shrub, historically important and now scarce in the wild.

The bitter herb of the monsoon — quick from seed and a reliable pot plant.

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.

A climbing vine of the monsoon, long used in home remedies and generous with shade.

A creeping marsh herb happy in a wide bowl of wet soil — the one plant you cannot overwater.

The household holy basil — thrives in a pot, keeps pests down and brings pollinators to a balcony.

The wild tulsi — taller, camphor-scented and perennial where winters are mild.

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