Seasons: Monsoon

A woody climber of the dry deccan, slow but very long-lived on a trellis.

A dry-country shrub with yellow flowers, tough enough for a Rajasthan roof.

Plant a knob of market haldi in June; harvest your own in February.

The same trick as turmeric, in slightly more shade and slightly less time.

A curcuma that smells of raw mango — the pickle rhizome of the east.

Thick scented leaves on a succulent stem; one plant fills a windowsill pot for years.

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

Drought-tolerant root herb for a hot sunny corner; needs almost nothing once established.

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.