Regions: west

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.

Sow thickly in a wide tray and cut the whole crop at three weeks — the fastest green there is.

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

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

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

A whole pharmacy in a tree, and the source of the safest home pest spray. Needs ground space — not a balcony…