Regions: South India

A small deccan tree that fruits on very little water and poor soil.

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

Yellow bells almost all year on a shrub that survives a forgotten terrace.

A spiny yellow-flowered shrub of dry scrub, unbothered by heat or thin soil.

Huge red cups in February that feed every bird in the neighbourhood at once.

A fast native shade tree with scented ball flowers and city birds in it.

Scarlet flowers on bare branches in spring; grows from a stuck-in cutting.

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.