Curry Leaf Tree
Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.
Location
Other Plants
Family
Rutaceae
Common names
Curry Leaf Tree, Curry Patta, Sweet Neem
Native range
Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical regions
Flowering
January-May
Fruiting
January-May
Conservation status
Not threatened; widely cultivated in home gardens and plantations across tropical and subtropical regions
About this plant
Murraya koenigii is a small, aromatic, evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 4–6 metres in height. The trunk is slender with grey to dark brown bark. Leaves are compound, imparipinnate, with 11–21 leaflets; leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, glossy dark green, and strongly aromatic when crushed. Flowers are small, white, fragrant, and borne in terminal or axillary cymes. Fruits are small, ovoid to round berries, green when unripe and turning purplish-black on ripening. Each fruit contains one seed.
Uses
The leaves are widely used as a culinary herb in South Asian cuisine, especially in curries, chutneys, and spice preparations, valued for their distinctive aroma and flavour. Medicinally, Murraya koenigii is important in traditional systems such as Ayurveda and folk medicine. Leaves, roots, and bark are used for digestive disorders, diabetes management, inflammation, hair and skin care, and as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.
Growing conditions
Thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter
Habit
Evergreen shrub or small tree