TYPES OF GARDEN

1. LANDSCAPING OF HOME
2. LANDSCAPING OF INSTITUTE
3. LANDSCAPING OF INDUSTRY
4. ROOF GARDEN

1. LANDSCAPING OF HOME
There are many people who think that landscape gardening relates to only gardening in large public parks
or palaces of the rich. Landscaping as it is done for larger estates or public parks can also be
implemented in a tasteful and artistic way for a small home ground, though on a smaller scale. The term
"small" is a misleading 'one so far as it relates to gardens. The simplest definitive or "small", as suggested
by some authors quite appropriately, is an area which can be effectively managed and maintained
physically as well as financially by the owner and his family with occasional hired labour for such hard
work as digging, mowing, and shearing of hedges. Here, ways will be suggested for landscaping only
small residential houses. For larger estates, a combination of landscaping effects suggested for parks and
home landscaping may be followed.
There are some basic guidelines for a home landscape. But personal preference plays a considerable
role in developing a home garden. The home including its surroundings should be an outward expression
of the inner personality and individuality of the owner. Often a common mistake is made by many to copy
a successful competitor of a garden competition or a neighbour. This may not suit your own home for
various reasons. For example, location aspect of your own garden may be quite different compared to the
one which you want to copy. It is advisable to think a lot before even a single digging work starts. It is a
matter of great regret that in our country sometimes we spend a fortune in decorating the interior of the
house to make it attractive but ignore the outside compound.
Making a Plan
Before any actual garden work is undertaken a master plan has to be prepared according to a scale (1:
15 or 1: 20) in which all the features such as house wall, drive-way, paths, flower beds, shrubbery, etc.,
are plotted. The shaded areas due to large tree canopy or the building itself has to be marked on the plan.
A plan prepared on a printed graph paper is of great help. The plan thus prepared should be studied
again and again keeping in view what shape a plant will take in the long run. It is frequently observed that
people attracted by the graceful form of a young Araucaria cookii, plant this in the centre of a lawn or near
the house possess the gigantic form and height it will attain after some years.
Perhaps the owner of the house will cut this tree when overgrown or it may be retained to the detriment of
other plants growing below it. Either way, this is not a good planning. Perhaps, one way of satisfying the
urge of a garden lover to grow such beautiful trees in a small compound, is to grow them large concrete
tubs and bury the tub growing the tree in the appropriate place, thus giving the impression that the plant
has actually been grown on the ground. When this attains a considerable height, say 3-6 m, the tree
along with the pot should be lifted and given to someone who can afford to use such a grown-up tree. But
it is better not to include such controversial items. If the garden area is sufficiently large, this can be
divided into three areas.
(1) Approach or Public Area: This is the area from the street side extending to the entrance of the
house. The area may be small or quite large depending upon where the building is situated. The aim is to
harmonize or blend the surroundings with the house proper. The approach area should not be
overcrowded with large trees. It is better to have doorway or "foundation" plantings with low rowing shrubs

and evergreens. Floribunda and miniature roses are also suitable for foundation planting provided
sufficient sun, at least during the morning hours, is available. It is important to note that planting in front of
the house should neither obscure it nor cut off light and air nor block the windows thus obstructing view of
the garden from indoors.

Floribunda rose
Big trees, if space permits, can go in the backyard but should not be overcrowded in the front. But a few
low-growing trees can be accommodated at the appropriate places as next to entrance, if space is
available or somewhere in the front lawn. An open spacious lawn with some annuals (cut-and-come again
zinnias, salvias, and petunias) or herbaceous perennials (chrysanthemum, Canna, and Impatiens in
shade) can be planned in addition to the foundation plantings.

.
Impatiens balsamina

Zinnia

(2) Work or Service Area: The work or service area can be convenient, orderly and attractive. Wherever
feasible this and the living area should be situated at the back of the house as these need seclusion or
privacy. This area includes the kitchen garden, compost bin, nursery, tool shed, and garage. Some people
like to include the children's swings and the slide in this portion as the children can be kept under
surveillance from the kitchen. This should be separated from view by planting a thick hedge or a row of
bushy shrubs, as this is considered as the shabbiest part in any garden.

Service area
(3) Private Garden Area or Living Area: This is generally termed as the outdoor living area, where
people sit out in the winter to enjoy the sun or rest in the summer under an arbour or shade of tree. This
area should be easily approachable and visible from the living (drawing-room) or dining-room, screened
from unsightly objects and for privacy. In the western countries people prefer a terrace and this is the
place where it should come. There should be some shaded sitting spot such as a tree or arbour with
garden benches.
Landscaping can help you effectively cover your outdoors thereby helping you block unpleasant views
from outsiders or your own neighbors. Building huge walls to achieve this would be undesirable when the
same can be achieved beautifully through landscaping.
Garden benches offer a real opportunity to add utility, color and beauty to the landscape. Comfortable and
attractive items are now available in a wide variety of low maintenance outdoor furniture. Outdoor
furniture must be large enough to be practical and must be in scale with its surroundings. Built-in furniture
has the added value of being permanently in place and enhancing the overall design. Occasionally the
surface of a retaining wall or raised planter can serve as a seating area. The living terrace is the most
usual place for outdoor furniture.
A wide stretch of lawn with shrub border or few annual beds or a rose garden can also be included in
this section. A tennis court or a play area has to be included here, if there is enough room.

Play area

But before actual planning one has to first decide what one wants for one's house. A choice has to be
made from the following. Whether the garden is needed (a) as an outdoor having room with a long stretch
of lawn and terrace (b) as a fenced-in playground (c) as a show piece with collection of exotic and rare
plants or (d) a yielder of vegetables and fruits or cut flowers for the house is to be determined first. Some
may like to add to the list a large tree for shade or trees to attract birds. It is to be considered first what
should be the major theme of the garden.
If somebody is fascinated with flowers, the borders are to be planned wide to fulfill his desire. People fond
of vegetables and fruit may like to reserve the major portion of the area for this purpose with possibly a
little area left around the house for a pleasure garden. But, if the garden is desired as a place for outdoor
living, a vast expanse of lawn with minimum of beds and borders has to be planned. Some novices may
like to combine the good qualities of all these themes and incorporate in his garden. This is bound to
create a mess of everything and the ultimate result will be a garden good for nothing.
Many people advise not to include any pool or formal rock garden or the kind in a home garden. But there
is no harm if a formal or informal 1i1y pool can fit in with the overall design, with or without a fountain or a
rock garden. A statue or sun dial can also be well fitted in some spacious compounds.

Lily pool
Some Points to Ponder
In designing a house some more thinking is necessary. To keep down maintenance cost and time, an
untrimmed hedge should be preferred over trimmed one, open lawns and shrubs need less attention than
annual flower beds. If the beds and borders in a lawn are edged with stone or brick no hand-clipping of
grass will be required. A pool needs to be cleaned occasionally and one should ponder twice before
including this in the plan. The water outlets in the garden should be fixed at appropriate places so that the
hoses are not dragged to long distances. The above suggestions are for reducing the labour cost which is
especially relevant in industrially advanced countries where labour is costly. Fortunately in India, labour is
not so costly' and one can include one or two features needing help of manual labour.
To create privacy, trees, hedges, shrubs, fences, or creepers trained on wire-mesh structure supported by
angle iron or G.I. pipe pillars can be grown. Trees are used when height is needed, otherwise hedges and
other types of screens should be preferred.
Lighting is needed in the light special1y for terrace area and paths. The same electricity points can be
utilized for running an electric lawn mower.

Electric lawn mower

How to Proceed
When everything has been decided, it is time to tentatively select the plants needed. The different
features are then drawn on the paper with a pencil so that this can be erased if alterations are to be
made. After thorough study and several additions and omissions a plan is finalized. For an experienced
man, this would not be much of a problem. But a novice must visit the neighbours and see some of the
local parks to know what can be grown. The first thing is to select the materials for the basic framework
such as background, screens, trees needed for shade, the doorway and the corner of the house. To this
the features needed for effects and beauty as for example plants for foundation planting, flower beds,
specimen shrubs or trees are added.
After everything is finalized on paper these are put into practice on the ground with the help of splitbamboo stakes and rubber hose. The trees are represented by bamboo stakes, while the beds and
borders can be plotted by bending a rubber hose in the desired pattern, Paths, hedge, or screen area can
also be marked with stakes. When everything is plotted the design is studied again and last-minute
changes are effected if required. After this, digging and planting work are started according to plan.
Before implementing the plan some compounds may need a little dressing-up like cleaning, levelling and
tidying-up.
Salvaging an Old Garden
If a property has been purchased which already had some garden, it is to be studied whether the old
garden can be re-made. This is a complicated job which has its advantages and disadvantages. It is often
difficult to adjust some existing features into the new plan. The aim is to incorporate in the new design
every interesting existing feature and remove others not needed. A bird bath, water garden and terraces
should be retained and improved upon. The remaking process has to be completed slowly after watching
every feature carefully and evaluating their utility in the new design.

Water garden
Problems and solutions
Often it so happens that a double-storey house has a one-storey garage attached at one side of the
building thus disturbing the whole balance. The solution in correcting this imbalance lies in planting tall
trees with rounded canopy along the garage end. It is also important to select the proper plants near the
house to soften and broaden the view of the house. A medium tree with low-branching habit and with a
rounded or little oval-shaped top is planted near the corner with some low-growing shrubs planted around
it. Trees such as silver oak, Amherstia nobilis, Cassia nodosa, Dillenia indica, Gulmohar, Magnolia grandiflora and Saraca indica can be used for this purpose. If the tree selected is deciduous in nature the
evergreen shrubs below should form the contrast. For a two-storey house, a high branching rounded
canopy tree such as Anthocephalus cadamba, Erythropsis colorata, Michelia
champaca, and Polyalthia.longifolia should be planted farthest from the corner of the house and in
between a fairly large second tree or shrub is planted, besides some other low-growing shrubs.

Amherstia nobilis

Gulmohar

Michelia champaca

A doorway near the house needs special attention as this is the place which receives maximum attention
from a visitor. Depending upon the approach a doorway can be planted informally, formally, or in a semiinformal pattern. It can be arranged with a garden-type design consisting of an ornamental shade or
flowering tree perennial and annual flowers, climbing roses, some bulbs such as Zephyranthes,
Amaryllis and daffodils (for temperate regions). Where it is not possible to plant the annual and perennial
flowers in ground these can be put in tubs and arranged artistically. An ornamental light post, an urn or an

artistically shaped boulder will be an object of interest when placed near the shade tree or in an
appropriate corner. A bed of roses can also be a spot of beauty provided it receives the morning sun.
Symmetrical plants with pyramidal form such as Thuja, Juniperus chinensis, and Cupressus
macrocarpa are preferred by many near the doorway for a formal treatment.

Amaryllis

Daffodils

If a plot is rectangular in shape, where the length is far greater than the breadth, the best way to develop
such plot will be to divide the whole area into a series of garden compartments enclosed by hedges with
continuous walk of gravel paving or grass connecting each segment with the other. But some people may
prefer to have long stretches of open lawn, when this arrangement will not do. In such cases the plot
should at least be subdivided into two segments as too much of a rectangular land with narrow width is
not pleasing to the eye.
Many people inherit irregular-shaped plots specially those who are allotted the corner plots. It is far more
difficult to plan a garden for such plots compared to a rectangular or a square plot. Inept handling may
ruin such plots but a man with imagination and artistic sense can develop a garden which will be far more
interesting than a garden in a regular shaped plot. Such plots should receive informal treatments. An
irregular-shaped corner may be tackled by constructing an informal lily pool. Similarly beds and borders
should be shaped irregularly according to the contour of the plot. It may be far more convenient to
develop a rock garden in a shapeless corner than to have a lawn or flower bed. It may be wise not to
have formal paths of any kind; instead, the various areas may be reached by stepping-stones placed in
artistically-curved fashion over the grass. These are only a few suggestions. Much depends on the
imagination and tact of the man doing the job on the spot as the situation demands.
Plans for very small compounds
What we have so far discussed suits the plots which are relatively large. For very small plots which
cannot be divided into different segments such as public area, living area, and work area, one has to
depend upon one's own imagination to landscape such plots. But it should be remembered that the
majority of the flowering plants and Calcutta doob do not flourish well in a shaded place. For such plots
situated under shade it is wise to put shade loving foliage plants and flowering plants preferring semishade such as Impatiens sultanii, geranium, day lily and footfall lily. Otherwise, a lawn planted with a few
specimen shrubs or roses or one or two small beds of flowering annuals will be more than sufficient for
small compounds situated in the open. In all probability it will not be possible to have any large tree in
such compounds.

Impatiens sultanii

Geranium

What we have discussed so far are some possibilities and nothing is sacrosanct. One can use one's own
imagination to alter one plan or other. Actually landscape design has a wide flexibility and the same plot
can be landscaped in two or more different ways. Moreover, opinion varies between one landscape
designers to another and hence, the controversy whether a design is perfect will never end. But the basic
theories must be followed and mistakes such as overcrowding, monotony and placing of plants in wrong
situations (e.g., a sun-loving plant placed under the shade of a tree) should be avoided. Once the design
is decided, the different features such as paths, walls, pools, lawn are constructed as per the procedures
suggested in this book. The basic necessities such as irrigation and drainage should also be taken care
of.
Trees suitable for small gardens
While selecting trees for the home garden the following questions must be answered. First of all, why the
tree is needed? Is it for a background or corner planting to frame the house; whether this is needed for
shade for sitting or for the terrace and if so, whether grass will grow under shade? Once the questions are
answered, the right type of tree has to be selected. Enough room has to be left for the tree to grow. As for
example, a 25 x 50 m plot has room only for a large shade tree and two to three small flowering trees.
Shallow rooted trees such as Millingtonia hortensis should not be planted as they are surface feeders and
may be uprooted by storms.
Some trees suitable for the garden have already been mentioned in the course of discussion, but some
more may be added. Bauhinias in different species are quite suitable.

Bauhinia purpurea
Bottle brush is suitable for many situations. Tecoma argentea is a wonderful flowering tree for home
gardens around Bangalore. The following trees are also suitable for planting in the home

grounds: Mimusops elengi, Gliricidia maculata, Cochlospermum gossypium, Cassia fistula, and Cassia
spectabilis.

Cassia fistula

Cassia spectabilis

Some shrubs may be grown as specimens in the lawn. A few suggested shrubs are Ixora singaporensis,
Brya ebenus, Sophora tomentosa, Mussaenda philippica, Azalea, Cotoneaster
horizontalis and Rhododendrons in different species. The last three are suitable for temperate climates.
For shrubbery border a list of shrubs may be made from the chapter on ornamental and flowering shrubs,
depending upon situation.

Ixora singaporensis

Mussaenda philippica

Landscaping a Country Home

A villager in India may not need a sophisticated garden as has been discussed in the foregoing pages.
However, a countryman will need as much privacy as a city dweller. A village home has to be planned with
more utility items. A villager would like to grow more vegetables and fruit for his family consumption and
consequently more area should be earmarked for this purpose. But a shade tree or two and some area
reserved for children's playground is definitely needed. Some utility flowering trees such as Michelia
champaca, Plumeria acutifolia and shrubs such as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Tabernaemontana coronaria,
Barleria, and Jasmines yielding flowers for worshipping and hair decoration should be included for
planting.

Michelia champaca

Tabernaemontana coronaria

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Barleria cristata

The common flowering annuals such as marigold, zinnia, balsam, and sunflower can be grown for beauty
and cut flowers for various purposes.
Top

2. LANDSCAPING OF INSTITUTE
A planned and properly landscaped school building will be different in appearance and beauty than
unplanned one. Moreover a good garden in the campus inculcated aesthetic sense to our younger
generation.
The general recommendations is to plant large trees in the school compound in the periphery of the
school campus, along the rear and wings, a thick belt of large shady trees should be planted to bring
down noise and cut down dust and storms. This plantation will also help keep down severe heat and cold.
The front should be planted with medium-sized flowering trees for beauty. The trees should not
completely obstruct the view of the building from outside. For enhancing the scenic beauty it is also
suggested to plant a row of flowering trees, with different blooming seasons, in front of the large trees
along the periphery. It is difficult to give any general recommendation regarding the types of such trees,
as this will vary according to the architectural design, situation and climate. The object is to provide
beauty and comfort depending on convenience.

The roads and paths are to be formally planted with medium to tall flowering plants. Before planting
provision should be made for overhead wiring and sewerage so that these do not interface with the
avenue planting. Where the electric wires limit the choice of avenue trees, small flowering trees such
as Cochlospermum gossypium, Callistemon lanceolatus, Bauhinia variegata, and Tecoma argentea can
be planted. The trees should be planted in pure avenues. A lawn looks nice in an educational institution,
but is very difficult to maintain. The playground can be planted with lawn, if this can be maintained or
should be left bare.

Bauhinia variegata

Callistemon lanceolatus

A thickly planted belt of eucalyptus for peripheral planting is considered ideal. Silver
oak, Polyalthia and Samanea saman are also suitable for this purpose. Cassia fistula, Tecoma argentea,
Erythrina indica, Lagerstroemia flos-reginae and Bauhinia variegata are suitable for planting in the front
and in the front row of the border planting.

Lagerstroemia flos-reginae

Cassia fistula

The roads and paths are to be formally planted with medium to tall flowering plants. Before planting
provision should be make for overhead wiring and sewage so that these do not interfere with the avenue
planting. Shrubs play an important part in the school landscaping. Shrub borders round parks or
playgrounds is very effective and can replace hedges as the maintenance is minimum. A lawn look nice in

an educational institution but it is very difficult to maintain. A bougainvillea creeper trained over the wall of
the building can change the whole look. Similarly, a Bignonia venusta supported against a wall also looks
beautiful. A creeper climbing with their rootlets such as Ficus repens, Tecoma radicans can also be
trained over some stone or brick wall. Besides an ornamental or a landscape garden, universities and
colleges can also maintain a botanical garden or a student garden, where the plants are arranged in
groups, family wise so that such gardens become educative.
Top

3. LANDSCAPING OF INDUSTRY
In modern times, a factory should not become a place of only machinery, dust, pollution and noise, but
should also be provided with nicely laid-out parks and gardens. This is not only needed from the point of
beautification, but also to fight pollution and dust. The factories may be broadly categorized into two
groups. The first group comprises comparatively neat factories such as a plywood factory or a fruit
processing plant which emit less dust and other polluting materials. The second group consists of
factories such as cement, steel, fertilizer, etc. which emit a lot of dust, smoke, and harmful chemicals. The
primary aim in a factory garden will be to plant trees to arrest the drifting dust and smoke and to cut down
noise.
Another important aim is to provide ample shade and coolness so that the workers get a respite under the
coolness of trees from the hostile hot interior of the factory. Moreover the trees bend down the
temperature in the factory premises to a considerable extent. The places where garden can be laid in the
factory area are canteen, rest-shed, hospital, administrative building etc.
It is interesting to note that well landscaped offices tend to have lower cases of absenteeism and job
shifting. It has also been found that employees serving in offices featuring colorful landscaped entrances
show better productivity. The reason for this can be attributed to the basic fact that humans have a
fundamental desire to keep contact with nature. Our perception and moods are highly influenced by the
colors we see in and around us
Tall and hardy trees such as Casurarina equisetifloia, Eucalyptus, Polyalthia logifolia and Silver
oak should be planted all around or in the direction of the winds to stop the spread rows of plants planted
in a staggering manner bring down the noise from the factory to the surroundings outside this barrier.

Polyalthia logifolia
Moreover, in a well-planted factory, the trees bring down the zone may be created by afforestation
between the factory and its residential colony. Afforestation can be done with hardy ornamentals such

as Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Dalbergia sisso, and some other shade trees. Besides
planting of trees, a factory area can also be beautified with rockeries, statues water pools or lakes,
fountains, etc. Bougainvillea should be used freely to beautify a factory area.
Root zone process is a German Technology to treat industrial and domestic waste water economically,
efficiently and naturally. Three integrated compounds are essential to this system. They are the reeds, the
reed bed and the microbial organisms.
Run the contaminated water under the root zone and the reed beds treat the water. The out coming
water is clear, odourless and free from contamination which can be used for gardening and farming.
Landscaping can hugely enhance the sales appeal of a property thereby increasing the overall property
value. The factors that seem to contribute in increasing the property values include greenery, walkways,
arches, patios, decks and ponds.
Thus there is vast scope for the development of industrial and institutional landscapes. Such landscapes
should aim to improve the aesthetic beauty of the place and reduce the pollution.
Top

4. ROOF GARDENING
Garden is an embellished area with plants. The importance of gardening has been well understood by
every individual. The gardens not only serve as a place of recreation, it also serves as a place for
education by the way of establishing a home garden or botanical gardens.
The art of creating the greenery and maintaining the greenery is known as Roof Gardening. This is
also known as Terrace gardening. The existing roof top can be effectively utilized for growing fruit plants,
vegetables, spices, homestead medicinal plants, flower plants and ornamental plants. The population
explosion occurs every day resulted in the migration of peoples from rural areas to urban areas for
income generation. Due to migration of peoples most of the agriculture lands are converted into
residential areas, resulted with decreased production of fruits and vegetables. This can be circumvented
by kitchen gardening and roof gardening.
In urban areas, due to escalating population, more land area is brought under the construction of houses;
therefore there is hardly any space for growing vegetables. Especially in multistoried buildings, roof
gardening is the only way to grow fruits and vegetables by using the pots and containers. This practice is
known as container gardening. Psychiatrist recommends that working in garden refresh the body and
mind by reliving harsh stresses. Gardens become the integral part of the family life benefited by the
supply of toxic free fresh fruits and vegetables.
Dietitians recommend 85 grams of fruits/day, 300 grams of vegetables/day, whereas the present day
consumption of fruit is only 30 grams/day and vegetables is 120 grams/day. The consequences of
nutritional and vitamin deficiency are given as follows.

Nutrients

Calories and proteins

Consequences of deficiency

Retarded growth in children; irritability, apathy and retarded mental

development; discolouration of skin and hair; swelling of face and lower

part of the legs and feet, fatty liver, and extreme emaciation.

Vitamin A

Vitamin B
Thiamine (B1)

Inability to see in brightness, sensitivity to night light, foamy white

patches on the conjunctive softening of the cornea, leading to blindness;
frequent respiratory infections.

Causes beriberi; loss of appetite.

Riboflavin (B2)

Cracks at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips; glossy tongue; ulcers in
the oral cavity.

Nicotinic acid

Sore tongue (scarlet coloured); pellagra, showing skin changes on

hands, feet, legs and neck; mental changes in severe condition.

Vitamin C

Scurvy bleeding gums and mucus membranes and susceptibility to

infection as common cold.

Calcium

Important for bones and teeth, blood clotting. Osteomalacia in women

after repeated pregnancies.

Iron

Anemia pale smooth tongue, pale eyes and skin; spoon shaped
nails; frequent exhaustion.

Aims of roof gardening

Year round supply of fresh fruits and vegetables

Reduces expenditure on purchase of fruits and vegetables

Effective utilization of space available at the roof top

Supply of toxic free fruits and vegetables

To grow our own favourite vegetables

Rare and unavailable vegetables can be grown in roof garden

Apart from the above, working in a roof garden will relieve stress and strains.

Maintaining the greenery through roof garden reduces the pollution

Increases the monetary value of land / apartment

Location of garden
1. Roof top/ verandah / window sills
2. Preferably open areas with plenty of sunlight and water supply
Roof gardening can be established in a best manner with the availability of sun light and water. Plants
produce quality fruits and vegetables by using sunlight and water. Since there is not enough place in the
flats these days, this garden can be laid on roof tops, there by effectively utilizing the available space on
the roof tops. In multistoried buildings, not all the apartments have a roof. Thus the pots can be placed in
the verandah and window sills.

Fruit crops in roof garden

Vegetable crops in roof garden

Flower crops in roof garden

Cacti and succulents in roof garden

Medicinal plants in roof garden

Method of cultivation in roof top
1. Trough / Benches
In the open roof top, based on the bearing load, cement benches of convenient length and depth can be
constructed and the soil mixture (2 parts of red soil + 1 part of sand + 1 part of compost) filled up and
utilized for growing the fruit or vegetable crops. Leave 1 space at the rim, to facilitate irrigation.

2. Trough (For newly build houses)

For efficient utilization of roof spaces, an inward trough is formed in the unutilized spaces of roof top i.e.,
like sunkened trough. The length and depth of trough may be designed as per the requirement. The
available area is properly coated with water-proofing materials to avoid the seepage of water into the roof
area. The inner side is designed with a gradual slope to facilitate the drainage. The drainage hole is

covered with wire mesh and gravel for ensured drainage. Finally the entire area is laid with geo-textile
material and finally filled up with the soil mixture for raising fruits and vegetable.

Bearing of Brinjal
3. Pots / Containers :Pots and Containers can be used for raising the fruits and vegetables.
Types of containers

Cement pots

Earthen pots

Plastic barrels

Wooden barrels

Boxes

Crates

Paws

Plastic jars

Damaged buckets

Tin boxes

Drums and different sizes

Plastic covers

Cement / Fertilizer bags

Damaged sink / wash basin

Damaged bowls / water tanks

Unused water cans

Seed pan and seed boxes

Seed pans are shallow earthen pots about 10cm high and 35cm in diameter with a drainage hole at the
bottom. Seed boxes are made of wood, porcelain and earthen pots of 40cm wide and 60cm long and
10cm deep, with 6-8 properly spaced holes drilled in the bottom. Against each holes a crock is placed with
its concave side down. Some large pieces of crock are put over it and also by the side of this crock, some
coarse sand 2 or 3 handfull is sprinkled on the crock pieces forming a thin layer to prevent fine soil from
clogging the drainage hole. Over this, required soil mixture is added and kept in open sunlight for raising
the vegetables.

Earthen pots
Earthen pots made of burnt porous clay in various sizes to hold enough quantity of soil and roof space for
cultivating different kinds of plants. They have straight sides and are made wider at the top than at the
bottom to hold the greatest bulk of compost and also to facilitate easy removal of soil, intact with roots
(ball of earth) at the time of planting or repotting.
In our country, pots of varying sizes viz., tube pots, size, size, size and thali are used commonly.
Tube pots are used to raise the rootstocks of mango and sapota for grafting purposes. size pots are
used for potting singly very small seedlings during first transplanting and also for layering in plants like
West Indian Cherry and Guava. size pots are extensively employed for growing well rooted cuttings of
several kinds of plants and small plants of all kinds. size pots are preferred for growing Dahlia, Cannas,
Palms, Shrubs, Roses etc. In addition to the above, the earthen pots were filled with soil mixture and used
for raising vegetable crops. Apart from the above, the soil mixture is filled in polythene covers and used
for the cultivation of vegetables like tomato, brinjal, chilli, turmeric, coriander, amaranthus etc.,

Polythene bags
Small polythene bags with punched holes at the bottom for drainage and filled with a porous rooting
medium are used for propagation of cuttings like jasmine, duranta, crotons etc., in the mist chamber.

Some times, young seedlings which are raised in the nursery are subsequently transplanted in these
polythene bags are kept there till they attain required growth for transplanting them to the main field (e.g.,
papaya, curry leaf etc).

Plastic pots: Plastic pots, round and square are used to keep mostly indoor plants. They are reusable,
light weight, non-porous and they require only little storage space.

Fibre pots: These are available in small size varying from 5-10 cm width and are either round or square
in shape. They are bio non-degradable and last longer periods with the soil and plants inside.

Paraffined paper or Styrofoam cups

They look like ice-cream cups with drainage holes. They serve satisfactory as temporary containers for
growing and transferring young plants on a large seed bed. They are light, cheap and require little space.
Recently, thermocole molded pots have been gaining popularity as they are light weight and attractive.

Tools
a. Hand hoe
b. Spade / showel
c.

Rose can

d. Hand sprayer

e. Gardening hose with sprinkler

f.

Bamboo stakes and jute strings

Other inputs
a. Quality seeds from reliable sources like Agricultural University and Research Stations and
National Seed Corporation.
b. Good soil free from stones, weeds and other undecomposable materials
c.

Well decomposed organic manure (compost / FYM / leaf compost / digested coir compost)

d. River bed sand

e. Chemical fertilizers
f.

Insecticides

g. Fungicide
h. Organic inputs (Neem oil, Neem seed kernel extract, Panchakavya)
How to start
i.

Wash the container thoroughly and make drainage holes at the bottom

ii.

Mix soil, compost and sand with the help of hand hoe and shovel.

iii.

Fill the containers loosely with a gentle tap. The soil should settle, bearing one inch head space
at the top for irrigation.

iv.

a). For the transplanted vegetables, where nursery has to be raised, shallow pans and troughs
can be filled with the fine mixture of soil, sand and compost (1:1:1) and the seeds should be
sown. The container should be irrigated immediately after sowing. A layer of dry grass or straw is
spread on top of the soil till the seedlings emerge, and thereafter it is removed. Most of the
seedlings are ready for transplanting with one month of sowing. Recently, protrays are employed
for raising vegetable seedlings. Protrays are the plug trays of 2-3 depth with a drainage hole.
Initially portion of plug are filled with compost and one seed is sown in each plug and cover the
remaining portion with compost or sand mixed compost. The watering and other operations are
similarly to the above method.
b)The seeds of certain vegetable crops which can be sown directly, should be sown in the
selected pots/ polythene bags etc., The depth of the seed sowing should be about two and a half
times of the seed size. Most of the vegetables are raised by sowing their seeds directly in
containers. The seedlings of brinjal, chilli, tomato, capsicum and onion are transplanted in
containers / pots after 30-40 days of germination. Their seedlings can also be raised in earthen
pot or pans. A single healthy seedling may be transplanted in each container. Several seedlings,
each of onion and knolkhol, and can be transplanted in a container of the same size. Two or three
seeds are sown directly in such containers and later thinned out retaining healthy seedlings. The
number of plants per pot may be varied with shape and size.

Crop selection and raising

Sowing / planting
Sl.No.

Days to First harvest after

sowing / planting

Vegetables
Method

Time

1.

Amaranthus

Sowing

February- March
July- August

25-30

2.

Beet root

Sowing

October December

90-100

3.

Bittergourd

Sowing

February-March

55-60

4.

Brinjal

Transplanting

January - February
July August

45-60

5.

Broad bean

Sowing

September October

70-75

6.

Chilli

Transplanting

January - February
July August

50-60

7.

Cluster bean

Sowing

July August

30-35

8.

Cowpea

Sowing

January - February

60-65

9.

Cucumber

Sowing

February- March

45-50

10. Methi/ Fenugreek Sowing

September December

45-50

11.

Transplanting

Match July

45-50

Sowing

June July

30-35

Mint

12. Okra / Bhendi

13. Onion

Transplanting

June-July
October - November

75-80

14. Radish

Sowing

Round the year

25-30

15. Spinach

Sowing

September October

50-55

16. Tomato

Transplanting

December - January
June July

60-65

20. Turnip

Sowing

September-October

40-45

Cropping pattern
Generally almost all vegetable and spice crops are raised in three seasons Vaikaasi pattam, Adi pattam
and Thai pattam. For small scale purpose i.e., cultivation in home stead gardens, we need not depend on
any season; but raising of vegetables can be avoided during summer seasons.

Plots

May-June to
September-October

September October to
December-January

December-January to MayJune

Annual crops

(a) Bitter gourd

Lab lab

Snake gourd

(b) Brinjal and chilli

Amaranthus

Okra

(c) Ash gourd

Pumpkin

Amaranth

(d) Bushy / semi-trailing cowpea

Tomato

Cucumber

(e) Okra

Ash gourd

Chilli / brinjal

(f) Pumpkin

Okra

Onion

Perennial crops

(a) Vegetables

Drumstick, curly leaf, Chekurmanis, culinary banana,

Chekkurmanis, Agathi

(b) Fruits

Banana, acid lime, papaya, West Indian cherry, guava, rose

apple etc.

(c) Spices

Ginger, turmeric, mango ginger

Fruits crops suited for roof garden

1. Banana, Guava, Acid lime and Papaya
Vegetable crops suited for roof garden
1. Transplanted vegetables: Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli
2. Direct sown vegetables: Bhendi, Amaranthus, Cucurbitaceous vegetables like Bitter gourd,
Snake gourd, Ridge gourd and Bottle gourd, Radish and Beet root
Spice crops suited for roof garden
1. Turmeric, Coriander and Fenugreek
Medicinal crops suited for roof garden: Agathi, Adathoda, Aloe vera, Oomathai, Lemon grass,
Oomavalli, Karisalanganni, Perandai, Keelanelli, Thuthuvelai, Ponnanganni and Manathakali
Cultivation of fruits
Plating
materials

S.No. Crop

Varieties

1.

Neelum
Grafts
Banganapalli
Mallika
Bangalora, Alphonso,

Mango

Spacing
(m)
5 m x 5m

Yield
(Yield varies with varieties
and spacing adopted)
8 10 t/ha upto 15 years
15 20 t/ha from 15 20 years

2.

Banana

3.

Guava

4.

Sapota

5.

Papaya

6.

Rumani,
Robusta,
Dwarf Cavendish,
Grand
Naine,Rasthali,
Poovan, Nendran,
Karpooravalli,
Allahabad, Lucknow
46, 49, Arka Amulya,
Arka
Mridula, Banaras,
Baptla
Oval,
Cricket Ball,
Kirtibarti,
Guthi,
CO 1,
CO 2,
CO.3,
PKM 1,
PKM 2,
PKM 3,
PKM-4,
PKM (sa)-5 and
Kalipatti
CO 1,
CO 2,
CO 3,
CO 4,
CO 5,
CO 6,
CO 7,
Coorg Honey dew
and
Surya

Suckers

2mx2m

Yield (t/ha/year)
Poovan: 40 50
Monthan : 30 40
Rasthali : 40 50
Robusta : 50 60
Dwarf Cavendish : 50 60

Layers

5 m x 5m

25 t/ha

Grafts

8x4m

20 - 25 t/ha/year

Seeds

1.8 m x 1.8 m

CO 2 : 600 kg/ha
CO 5 : 800 Kg/ha

Acid lime Local varieties, PKM1 Budded plants

4mx4m

25 t/ha/year

Cultivation of vegetables

S.No.

1.

Crop

Tomato

Varieties

PKM 1,
CO 3 (Marutham) and
Paiyur 1

Plating
materials

Seed

Spacing
(m)

PKM 1, Paiyur
1 :
60 x 45 cm
CO 3 : 45 x 30

Yield
(Yield varies with varieties
and spacing adopted)

PKM 1
CO 3
Paiyur

: 30-35 t/ha
: 40 t/ha
: 30 t/ha

cm

Brinjal

Co 1,
Co 2,
MDU 1,
PKM 1,
PLR 1,
Seed
KKM 1,
PPI 1,
Annamalai and COBH
1 (Hybrid)

60 x 60 cm,
For hybrids 75 x
60 (or) 75 x 75
cm

Varieties : 25 to 30 t/ha
Hybrids : 45-50 t/ha

3.

Chillies

K 1,
K 2,
CO 1,
CO 2,
CO 3,
Seed
CO 4 (Vegetable type),
PKM 1,
KKM 1,
KKM (ch) 1,
PLR 1

45 cm x 30 cm

2 - 3 t/ha of dry pods

10 - 15 t/ha of green chilli

4.

CO 1,
CO 2,
Snake gourd PKM 1,
MDU 1 and
PLR (SG) 1

Seed

2.5 m x 2 m

18 t/ha

CO 1,
CO 2,
PKM 1,
Seed
Arka Sumeet and Arka
Sujath

2.5 m x 2 m

14 15 t/ha

2.

5.

Ribbed
gourd

6.

CO 1,
MDU 1,
COBgoH 1 (Hybrid),
Bitter gourd
Arka Harit,
Priya and
Preethi

Seed

2 m x 1.5 m

Varieties: 14 t/ha
Hybrids : 40 t/ha

7.

Cluster

Seed

45 cm x 15 cm

5 7 t pods/ha

Pusa Mausami, Pusa

Naubahar, Goma

beans

Manjari and Pusa

Sadabahar

8.

Vegetable
Cow Pea

CO 2,
VBN 2,
Pusa Komal and Arka
Garima

Seed

45 cm x 15 cm

5000 kg/ha

9.

Annual
Moringa

PKM 1, PKM 2 and

KKM 1

Seed

2.5 m x 2.5 m

50 - 55 tonnes of pods/ha
(220 pods/tree/year)

15 cm x 10 cm

20 30 t/ha

15 cm x 10 cm

12 16 t/ha
For Co (On) 5 onion, 18 t/ha
in 90 days

15 cm x 10 cm

Leafy types
25 days after sowing for
Mulaikeerai (10 t/ha)
40 days after sowing for
Thandukeerai (16 t/ha)
Clipping types
10 clippings at weekly
intervals
(30 t/ha)

1.5 m x 1.5 m

250-400 kg of leaves/ha

10. Radish

CO 1,
Pusa Rashmi,
Pusa Chetki,
Seed
Pusa Desi, Japanese
White and Arka Nishant

CO 1,
CO 2,
CO 3,
Small Onion/ CO 4,
11.
Aggregatum MDU 1 and
Co (On) 5 (free
flowering and seed
setting type)

Seed / Bulb

CO 1 (Mulaikeerai and
Thandukeerai)
CO 2 (Mulaikeerai and
Amaranthu Thandukeerai)
12.
Seed
s
CO 3 (Clipping)
CO 4 (Grain)
CO 5 (Mulaikeerai and
Thandukeerai)

13. Curry leaf

Sen Kaampa,
Dharwad-1 and
Dharwad-2

Cultivation of Spices

Seeds /
Suckers

S.No.

Crop

Varieties

Plating
materials

Spacing
(m)

Yield
(Yield varies with
varieties and spacing
adopted)

1.

Turmeric

CO 1,
BSR 1,
BSR 2,
Rhizome
Local cultivar: Salem
and Erode

2.

Coriander

CO 1, CO 2, CO 3
and CO (CR) 4

Seeds

15 cm x 10 cm

Leaf yield : 6-7 t/ha

3.

Fenugreek

CO 1, Pusa early
Seeds
bunching and CO 2

15 cm x 10 cm

Yield of green : 4000 5000 kg/ha

45 cm x 15 cm

Fresh rhizomes : 25-30

t/ha

Cultural practices
Watering
Plants in pots and containers need a lot of care and attention. It is essential to water the plants judiciously
depending upon the season, kind of crop, size of the plant and size of the container. Plants need extra
water during summer season and hence the plants should preferably be irrigated twice a day. Too much
watering will also lead to problems; hence we should strike a intelligent balance. The thumb rule for
irrigation is that the top soil should be scratch about one inch and seen, if the lower soil is damp, there is
no need of immediate irrigation. Due to evaporation, the top soil generally dries even though the soil may
have enough moisture to sustain the plant. In general, watering can be done as and when required.
Staking
Depending on the growth stage of plants, they need staking (i.e) support. Plants like lab lab, ribbed gourd,
bottle gourd and snake gourd needs staking or it has to be trained in pandal system for proper support. In
addition to the above, plants like tomato, brinjal and chilli also need staking on 60th day of planting.

Fertilizer application
For maximum growth and yield of crops can be achieved not only through organic manures and can be
improved better by the application of inorganic fertilizers. Top dressing with nitrogenous fertilizers
improves plant growth and yield of vegetables. This can be done by applying urea or DAP or ammonium
sulphate in small quantities. In general, 5-10 g of urea may be applied in moist soil once in a week or 10
days starting from 3 weeks after sowing or 2 weeks after transplanting. In general, 5 to 10 grammes of
complex fertilizers (17:17:17 / 20:20:20) containing NPK mixture is applied in three stages as follows:

30 days after planting (i.e) on set of vegetative phase = 5 to 10 grammes/plant

60 days after planting (i.e) on set of flowering phase = 15 to 20 grammes/plant

90 days after planting (i.e) on set of fruiting phase = 15 to 20 grammes/plant

In addition to the above, vermicompost 100 grammes/plant should be applied at monthly intervals. Care
must me taken that vermicompost should not mix with any inorganic fertilizers. Hence the application of
vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers should not be practiced simultaneously. Heavy doses of fertilizer
are very harmful. Immediately after fertilizer application, the plant should be watered.
Weed Control : Hand hoeing and weeding helps in aeration in the root zone and help the plant grow
healthy. Weeds should be removed gently in leafy vegetable crops like amaranthus, fenugreek, spinach,
coriander etc.
Pest and disease management

Pick and destroy the larvae found on fruits and vegetables and then spray Neem oil @ 4 ml/liter
of water + sticking agent 2 ml/liter of water or kadi soap or

Neem Seed Kernel Extract @ 3 % + sticking agent 2 ml/liter of water or kadi soap

Avoid spraying of toxic chemicals.

Based on the growth pattern and climatic factors vegetables are attacked by various pests and diseases.
Aphids and jassids are small sucking insects, injuring the plants especially in early stages of their growth.
Spraying of Dimethoate @ 2ml / liter of water + Neem oil @ 4 ml/liter of water + sticking agent 2 ml/liter of
water or kadi soap controls these insects. Fruit fly and fruit borer are serious pests of some vegetable
crops. They damage young fruits and make them unfit for consumption.
The affected fruits should be plucked and destroyed. The plants should be sprayed once or twice with
insecticides. After spraying, fruits should not be harvested for 7-10 days for consumption. Fungal
diseases (damping off and wilt) and viral disease affect the plants particularly during the rainy season.
Fungal diseases can be controlled by drenching the soil with Captaf solution @ 2g / lit of water. Virus
affected plants should be removed and destroyed.
Harvesting
Vegetables harvested at the peak of maturity and used promptly, are always superior in nutritional
content, freshness, flavour and appearance. Leafy vegetables should be picked up frequently when
tender. Root vegetables should be pulled out while tender otherwise they become pithy. Tomato is picked
at ripe stage, brinjal and okra are picked after they attains full size but still tender.
Rare vegetables like leek, fennel, and soya are not available in market always. Thus these can be
advantageously raised in containers. Curry leaf, Checkurmanis and gooseberry can also be grown in
medium to big sized containers in a roof garden.
Post harvest operations
Digging of soil: As soon as the season is over i.e., after the final harvesting of vegetables, remove the
plant from the pot / polythene cover and dump the soil in open place and break the clods.
Application of organic manures: After 15 days, add organic manures and mix the soil thoroughly and
refill the pots or polythene covers.
Choose alternate crops: In order to maintain proper recycling of nutrients, crop rotation can be adopted.
Hence choose alternate crops for the next season.
Ornamental plants suited for roof garden
Ornamental trees
Bauhinia purpurea, Plumeria alba and Callistemon lanceolatus

Shrubs
Acalypha hispida, Allamanda grandiflora, Barleria cristata, Bauhinia tomentosa, Clerodendron inerme,
Dombeya spectabilis, Duranta plumieri, Hamelia patens, Hibiscus rosasinensis, Mussaenda erthyrophylla,
Nerium oleander, Poinsettia pulcherrima, Tecoma stans, Thevetia nereifolia, Codioeum sp, Eranthemium
elegans and Pisonia alba

Climbers: Allamanda cathartica, Asparagus densiflorus, Bougainvillea sp, Clitorea ternatea, Ipomoea
palmate, Quisqualis indica

Flowers: Impatiens balsamina, Celosia sp, Chrysanthemum sp, Cosmos bipinnatus, Gomphrena
globosa, Tagetus erecta, Petunia hybrida, Portulaca grandiflora, Salvia splendens, Solidago Canadensis,
Vinca rosea and Zinnia elegans

Lawn grass
1.

Grassy area

2.

Charming effect

3.

Breaks the monotony and brings the integrity of garden components

4.

Cushiony layer for players who are engaged in sport activities

5.

Checks the pollution

6.

Increase the monetary value of land

Types of lawn grasses

S. No.

Botanical name

Common name

Texture

Medium

Situation

1.

Cynodon dactylon

Hariyali (or) Arugu

(or) Doob grass

Suitable for open sunny location;

drought tolerant

2.

Stenotaphrum
secundatum

St. Augustine grass Coarse

Suitable for shady situation with

frequent irrigations

3.

Zoysia japonica

Japan grass

Coarse

Can grow well in poor sandy soil

and suited for open sunny
situation

4.

Paspalum vaginatum

Paspalum grass /
Sea Shore
Paspalum

Medium

Suitable for open sunny situation,

highly drought tolerant

Selection of site
1. Open sunny places and preferably with little quantity of shade.
2.

Site should have ample quantity of water for irrigation.

3.

Free from hazards like grazing and use of pathways

4.

Site should not be under the tree canopy as the litter affects the quality of turf grass

5.

Poorly drained soils should be avoided.

6.

Soil and water should be medium to good quality.

Primary operations
Site clearing
(Uprooting of tree roots, stumps and concretes)

Back filling with soil mix

(Red soil: Sand: Compost 2:1:1 ratio)

Laying of irrigation lines main and laterals

Soil compaction
Final leveling with gentle slope for drainage
(Red soil: Sand: Compost 2:1:1 ratio)
Methods of lawn making
1. Seeding
2. Dibbling / Sprigging
3. Sodding / Turfing
Seeding

30 32 kg of seed is required for planting one hectare area (10,000 ha)

Seeds normally take 25 30 days for germination

Seeds are mixed with double the quantity of fine textured soil preferably of sand and sown
uniformly on a windless day

Care
1.

Till establishment, flood watering and hose watering is avoided

2.

Mowing should be done after 50 60 days of sowing

Disadvantages
1.

Poor establishment when compared to other methods.

2.

The availability of good quality seeds.

Sod / Turfing
Selecting turf pieces
1.

Should be free from sod worms

2.

Free from nutritional deficiency

3.

Free from weed population

4.

Sod should be properly cut without any deformations

5.

Height of the grass should be optimum

6.

Free from other pest and diseases

Precautions
1.

Mowing should be done 20 25 days after planting or depending upon the complete
establishment.

2.

The uneven surfaces and gaps can be fitted with turf plugs with sand.

3.

Turfing should not be practiced in winter seasons as it exhibits yellowing due to low temperature
and low light intensity.

Advantages

Quick and instant establishment

Uniform turf surface

Best suited for exhibitions, sports grounds

Disadvantages

Costlier

Poor establishment during winter season

Dibbling / Sprigging

Turf grass are separated along with their root portion is dibbled at 10 15 cm distances

Sprouting at 25 30 days

Complete coverage may take around 3 4 months

after planting

Precautions
1.

Mowing should be done 30 35 days planting.

2.

Mowing should be done at one-third level without affecting the foliage growth.

3.

Traffic movement should be avoided till the establishment.

4.

Light irrigation followed by rolling improves the turf appearance.

Advantages: Cheapest method

Disadvantages

Slow establishment

Cost of planting is higher, when compared to other method of establishment.

Quarterly fertilizer input ratio for turf grass

Urea

Superphosphate Murite of potash

Situation
(g/m2)

Low Maintenance
(Residential turfs)

100

75

75

High Maintenance
(e.g. Turf in public gardens)

200

100

150

Intensive Maintenance
(e.g. Sports fields)

300

150

150

Applied in two split doses (at 6 months intervals i.e., onset of summer and onset of winter
season)

Irrigate the lawn after fertilizer applicati

Maintenance of lawn grass

a)Mowing

Cutting of grass

Normal cutting height is 2.0 2.5 inches from the ground level

Mowing should be done at 15 - 20 days intervals

b)Weed management

Controlled by spot application / drenching with Glyphosate @ 5 ml/litre of water + Ammonium

sulphate @ 10 g/litre of water

c)Nutrient management

Fertilizers are applied in split doses @ 40 days interval

Irrigation is given immediately after fertilizer application

d).Pest and disease management

Spray Dimethoate/Acephate @ 2 ml/liter + Dithane M-45 @ 2 g/liter

Sprayed on rainless day

Dos and Donts

Dos
1. Place the pots in available space, accordingly to sunshine requirement.

2. Always check the drainage in the pots.

3. Leave 1 space in the pot at the rim, to facilitate irrigation.
4. Always sow the nursery in separate pots or protrays.
5. Use deep pots for plants with deeper roots (perennials) and shallow for shallow rooted plants
(annuals).
6. Keep large and heavy pots in strong part of the building.
7. Irrigate as and when required, after checking the moisture regime of the pot.
8. Always keep the pots and plants weed free, disease and pest free.
9. Place pots away from each other to facilitate air circulation.
10. Avoid spraying of toxic chemicals.
Donts
1. Dont overwater the pots.
2. Dont let the drainage hole clog or dont block the drainage hole.
3. Dont place too many pots together.
4. Dont place heavy pots in apartments if the building is not constructed to bear the weight since
damp soil is much heavier than dry soil.
5. Don not grow perennial plants (fruit crops like mango, sapota and guava) at roof top, since the
heavy feeder roots may penetrate / damage the roof top.
Other considerations
1. In the safer point of view, the roof top has to be painted with anti damp or damp proof paint to
avoid seeping of water to roof of the house and staining the floor and roof.
2. The garden work can be shared by all the members of the family. The strenuous work like lifting
the pots, pot filling and weeding can be assigned to the youngsters, harvesting can be done by
old people and children of the family. Women can participate in weeding and irrigation.
3. It is good idea to replenish the media with FYM periodically, say after every season or harvest so
that the nutrient status of the soil is maintained. After one year or 3 seasons the media has to be
changed using fresh soil and sand.
4. Large concrete pots of 2 -3 or waste / damaged plastic drums can be used to grow papaya
and banana.
5. When the inmates are out of station for 7-10 days the most important consideration is irrigation
for which the following can be done.

The drainage plates can be filled with water to maintain the moisture level.

Some mulch can be used on top of the pot soil, like a plastic sheet or straw / moss mulch.

For greens, since frequent watering is important, several layers of newspaper can be tied
to the body of the pot and the newspapers should be completely drenched with water.

6. To raise seedling like tomato or brinjal, Protrays which are trays with shallow depth (2-2.5)
should be used. The seed can be sown in small quantity also without wastage.
A pot of 1m depth and convenient length width may be used for composting plant residue / kitchen waste.
Vegetable wastes like leaf waste, onion peels, waste vegetables, pulp wastes, tea wastes, chopped
pieces of cauliflower / cabbage can be effectively decomposed in the pits / plastic barrels. The vegetable
wastes are dumped and a layer of soil (1 thickness) may be added at the top for efficient and quick
decomposition. The rate of decomposition can be enhanced by sprinkling water daily.
The kitchen waste can be dumped daily or as per the availability. Few earthworms may also be added for
faster decompostion. The compost is ready for use within two and half months to three months. The well
composed material will be dark brown in colour. The partially decomposed / undecomposed materials and
earthworms were again dumped back along with the earthworms. Avoid non vegetarian items as it may
create a fowl smell. The best location for compost preparation is shady to semi-shady locations.
Physical and psychic utility
Owing to the seat bound office jobs, there is hardly and physical activity in our lives. This lack of exercise
has lead to a number of health hazards. Roof garden system of vegetable cultivation provides an
alternative to people living in all kinds of dwellings individual houses, flats, or apartments. A family can
tend the garden as a team. This can be a healthy family time to interact and talk, while doing a useful
activity from the point of health and economy. This physical exercise helps us to forget the tensions of
office and our minds can freshen up.
With the passage of time, the traditional joint family system is breaking up in India and most of the
families are fragmenting into nuclear families on account of struggle for money and job strains. In families
where grand parents are a part, the older generation feels left out. With a roof garden at home, even the
old people can participate and feel one of the group and work rather than feeling left out. Thus having a
garden is not only a physical or monitory need but a psychological too.

Source

1.http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/28/chef-at-vancouvers-fairmont-waterfront-hotel-harvests-apples
2.http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article2438.ece
3.http://civileats.com/category/grow-your-own/roof-garden-rookies
4.http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/05/0514_green_china_awardees/15.htm
5.http://www.cityfarmer.info/2011/03/22/urban-agriculture-in-bangladesh/
6.http://www.cityfarmer.org/slack.html
7.http://www.tnau.ac.in/chennai/chennai.html
8.http://www.cityfarmer.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/roofny67.jpg
9.http://www.cityfarmer.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/tomat45.jpg
10.http://www.technologyforthepoor.com/UrbanAgriculture/Garden.htm
11.http://www.thelovelyplants.com/preparing-for-the-summer/
12.http://architectsforlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Pretty-herb- garden1-500x500.jpg
13.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pederhanson/3272456124/sizes/m/in/phot
14.http://thegrowingconnection.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html&usg=__k9O6rvRaLnruhlaXDa0A
g7s7sb0=&h=240&w=320&sz

15.http://www.superstock.co.uk/stock-photos-images/1566-617888
16.http://ubeautypotsandplants.blogspot.com/p/coconut-fibre-pots.html
17http://ca.all.biz/img/ca/catalog/25742.jpeg
18.http://farmerpraba.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html&usg
19.http://www.eurekatomatoes.com/assets/images/stake-tomatoes-l.jpg
20.http://tree-species.blogspot.com/2007/11/purple-orchid-tree-bauhinia-purpurea.html
21.http://australian-insects.com/lepidoptera/plants/apoc/plumeria-alba.jpg
22.http://mgonline.com/media/Images/b/bottlebrush01.jpg
23.http://mariposanursery.com/images/plants/shrubs/acalypha%20hispida.jpg
24.http://www.oramsnurseries.com.au/allamanda_sunee.jpg
25.http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2007/01/27/onalee/3c5003.jpg
26.http://toptropicals.com/pics/garden/trees/4423.jpg
27.http://www.google.co.in/search?
tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=Clerodendron+inerme&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=1
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29.http://almostedenplants.com/shopping/images/full/Duranta%20repens%20blue%20form.jpg
30.http://www.hawaiiantropicalplants.com/PHOTOS/Hamelia_patens.jpg
31.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3439960287_928222b8e0.jpg
32.http://www.rarefloweringtrees.com/g2/main.php?
g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1013&g2_serialNumber=3
33.http://www.alphabeticallistofflowers.org/uploads/allimg/100413/15492BX2-1.jpg
34.http://ih2.redbubble.net/work.417351.6.flat,550x550,075,f.mexican-flame-leaf-poinsettiapulcherrima.jpg
35.http://www.google.co.in/search?
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36.http://www.photomazza.com/IMG/jpg_Thevetia_peruviana.jpg
37.http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JNM3pjWIzMs/RiKD0YgMKJI/AAAAAAAABe8/nblpHg7jOGU/DSCN0483.JPG
38.http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ANko4sjweM/SXR0h0utPLI/AAAAAAAAGfA/
39.Fm2pl3uMG1Y/s400/Eranthemum+pulchellum.JPG39http://toptropicals.com/pics/garden/05/5/5226.jp
g40.http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.floraskolkata.com/images/allamanda_purple1.jpg
41.http://www.nathankramer.com/garden/plants/ferns/Asparagus_densiflorus.jpg
42.http://www.hear.org/starr/images/images/plants/full/starr-060928-0425.jpg
43.http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nz0Jt1GtEmc/SMoMpAGdsPI/AAAAAAAAAe4/jPMkFSBtN4/s400/Clitorea+ternatea01.JPG
44.http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4920792391_eae5684e7d.jpg
45.http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.com/productdescrip/pictures300/Quisqualis300.jpg
46.http://www.zone10.com/images/impatiens-balsamina.jpg
47.http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/43321/530wm/B8044172-Celosia_plants_Celosia_sp._-SPL.jpg
48.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3793430490_73858d29a4.jpg
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nata_series.jpg
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51.http://www.backyardgardener.com/tmimages08/280/7/7089.jpg
52.http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/images/petunia-h1.jpg
53.http://www.landscapedia.info/images/plant_images/Portulaca_grandiflora__Moss_Rose.jpg
54.http://www.sagewisdom.org/splendens.jpg
55.http://www.laspilitas.com/s/images/plants/1203/Solidago_canadensis_elongata.jpg
56.http://1.imimg.com/data/G/Q/MY-282770/vinca-rosea_250x250.jpeg
57.http://www.lonniesbulkseeds.com/Annuals/Zinniacaliforniagiant.c.jpg

Flowering plants of Kerala

Kerala with good rains and tropical climate is ideal for flowering plants to grow and profusely
bloom. Orchids, Anthurium and Roses stand in front of the flowering plant category and some
less prominent ones but more enchanting plants those are grown all over Kerala.
Aambal or Water-lily
Scientific Name : Nymphaea nouchali
Common Name : Aambal or Water-lily
Family
: Nymphaeaceae
The plant is known by many names like water lily, star-lotus, Nymphaea stellataetc. It is an
aquatic plant with stem submerged in the ground and long petiole holding flat round leaves
above water level. Water-lily flowers are brightly colored from red to blue; many petalled and
float over water surface. Hindu myths have a prominent place for lotus flower and Lord Vishnu
is supposed to be physically associated to lotus flower and all temples use lotus for rituals.
Arali, Nerium plant, Dog-bane, South-sea rose, Adalpha
Scientific Name : Nerium indicum
Common Name : Arali, Nerium plant, Dog-bane, South-sea rose, Adalpha
Family
: Apocyanaceae
The plant is a popular shrub of Kerala garden grown for their extremely beautiful flowers.
They grow as herbs, shrubs, trees and even as climbers. Their leaves are simple and alternate and
flowers in beautiful inflorescence. Production of profuse sap is a specialty of the members of this
family. This sap though poisonous (causes nausea and brain-damage if injested) is of much
medicinal value (used for the treatment of scabies).
Arumasam, Krishna kireedam or Pagoda plant
Scientific Name : Clerodentron paniculatum
Common Name : Arumasam, Krishna kireedam or Pagoda plant
Family
: Verbenaceae
The plant is a shrub that grows mostly in the wild but capable of excelling any garden-grown
plant for its beautiful terminal inflorescence that lasts about six months. Orange-red- bell shaped
flowers open row by row in the terminal cluster. Leaves are simple and dark green. The name
attributed to it; Krishna kireedam means the crown of lord Krishna; as the inflorescence is so
shaped; it is a pity that this plant is not given the adequate importance it deserves.
Ashokam, Galasoka, Anganapriya or Ashoka tree
Scientific Name : Saraca ashoca
Common Name : Ashokam, Galasoka, Anganapriya or Ashoka tree
Family
: Caesalpiniacea
The plant is a holy tree for Indians; leaves flowers etc are extensively used in the
preparations of Ayurvedic medicins. Ashoka plant bears beautiful scarlet colored flowers on all
seasons and is widely grown in front of Indian houses. Ashoka gives dark shades in hot seasons
for rest and recoup of the members of the family and hence called Angana-priya (darling of the
front-yard).

Chempakam or Joy-perfume tree

Scientific Name : Michelia chempaca
Common Name : Chempakam or Joy-perfume tree
Family
: Magnoliaceae
The flowers are cup shaped and fleshy; as a primitive feature petals and sepals
undistinguished (these parts are called tepals); flowers highly fragrant hence used as room
fresheners; perfumes are extracted from its flowers. Indian ladies prefer to wear these flowers in
hair and gents carry one in their pocket for the enchanting and long lasting perfume of this
special flower.
Chemparuthi or Rose-mallow or sorrel
Scientific Name : Hibiscus rosasinensis
Common Name : Chemparuthi or Rose-mallow or sorrel
Family
: Malvaceae
The plant is a widely cultivated garden plant that bears long stalked single auxiliary (that
arises from the axis of the leaves) flowers. A hibiscus flower is a typical one with sepals, calyx
and petals and a long stalk formed of the fusion of male stamen bearing stalks that protects the
long tube from the female part. Leaves are simple alternate dark green with toothed ridges.
Plants are either herbs or shrubs and even as trees. At present in this group has gained much
popularity due to a variety of colors and shapes being produced by way of biotechnology.
Kashithetti, Savam-nari or Madagascar periwinkle
Scientific Name : Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea)
Common Name : Kashithetti, Savam-nari or Madagascar periwinkle
Family
: Apocynaceae
It is an herb that bears white or pink flowers on all seasons. Leaves are small, simple and
green; fruits paired follicles (2 to 4 cm long). Periwinkle contains alkaloids of medicinal values
and cultivated in large scale.
Kadaladi, Mexican creeper, Rosa De Montana, Queens wreath or Coral vine
Scientific Name : Antigonon leptopus
Common Name : Kadaladi, Mexican creeper, Rosa De Montana, Queens wreath or Coral
vine
Family
: Polygonaceae
The plant is a tendril-climber that grows wild it is invasive and troublesome. Its profuse
flowers that grow in beautiful inflorescences are capable to make it a garden plant blush. Its
flexible stem is used to make baskets by the tribal people.
Kanakambaram, Abuli or fire-cracker plant
Scientific Name : Crossandra infundibuliformis
Common Name : Kanakambaram, Abuli or fire-cracker plant
Family
: Acanthaceae or Ruellia

The plant is a very popular flowering plant as its brightly colored flowers (blue to golden
yellow) are used by women to adorn their hair. This plant is a shrub with simple oval leaves and
its ripe fruits bearing pods burst when come in to contact with water; hence a favorite game for
rural children and gained it the name fire-cracker plant.
Kanikkonna or golden-shower tree is a shrub
Scientific Name: Cassia fistula
Common Name: Kanikkonna or golden-shower tree is a shrub
Family: Fabaceae
The plant is the State of Keralas official flower, as the name denotes its flowers are goldenyellow and grown in long pendent inflorescence. The golden shower tree produces flowers
early and considered as a clarion-call of the arrival of Vishu or Vaishakh a festival of flowers
(golden flowers of this plant is used to adorn the image of Lord Krishna on the day of Vishu and
shown to children as the first sight of the day for Vishu). A fully blown golden shower tree is a
treat to the eye of the beholder and the fallen petals on the ground gives it the name goldenshower tree.
Kongini or bendhi or Pot-marigold plant
Scientific Name : Calendula officianalis
Common Name : Kongini or bendhi or Pot-marigold plant
Family
: Austeraceae
The plant is a weak stemmed annual herb with compound dark green leaves; it is widely
grown for its aromatic and beautiful flowers (inflorescence with outer layer of petals forming the
colorful part); aromatic compounds and dyes extracted from flowers. Marigold flowers are worn
by women on auspicious occasions like marriage and celebrations.
Kulamariyan, Madhumalti or Rangoon or Chinese creeper
Scientific Name : Quisqualis indica
Common Name : Kulamariyan, Madhumalti or Rangoon or Chinese creeper
Family
: Combretaceae
The plant is an invasive, spiny creeper that grows wild and spread quick covering the whole
area by producing roots and fresh spouts from creeping stem. Its inflorescences are pendent,
flowers five petalled, rich in honey with a tubular stalks; appear white when freshly blown and
turns red by passing of the day. Leaves of this plant are used as anti-worm potion. This plant has
some medicinal uses and its stem is used for making baskets by tribal people.
Mandaram or Dwarf white bauhinia
Scientific Name : Bauhinia acuminata
Common Name : Mandaram or Dwarf white bauhinia
Family
: Fabaceae

It is a garden grown plant that grow only up two meters in height (certain varieties grow as
trees bearing blue flowers and often grown on street-sides). Generally dwarf bauhinias bear
white shiny flowers on all seasons; flowers are with five petals; leaves camel-foot shaped (hence
it is known as camel-foot plant also) and broad, fruits are pods (15 cm in length and 1.5 cm
broad; bear 6 to 10 seeds.
Mukkutti or life-plant
Scientific Name : Biophytum sensitivum
Common Name : Mukkutti or life-plant
Family
: Oxalidaceae
A short herb with pinnate leaves (eight to seventeen in number) that radiates from the stem,
flowers yellow; five petalled long stalked. Biophytum plant has many names like Aleluya in
French, nilakurunji in Tamil, Lejjalu in Gujarathi etc. It collapses when stirred (hence the Hindi
name Lajjalu meaning shy) it regains shape afterwards the commotion. Mukkutti is of high
medicinal value and widely used in Ayurveda.
Mulla or Jasmine
Scientific Name : Jasminum grandiflorum
Common Name : Mulla or Jasmine
Family
: Oleaceae
This is one of the most popular flowers for its enchanting fragrance; flowers are white, five
petalled, with tubular stalk; leaves generally simple and dark-green. About 200 species exist in
this group. Jasminum sambac has many petals (called chendu-mulla meaning bouquet jasmine.
Jasmine is a favorite flower of Indian ladies and is widely cultivated for flowers from which
oleoresins are extracted.
Nalumani or Four O clock plant
Scientific Name : Mirabilis jalapa
Common Name : Nalumani or Four O clock plant
Family
: Nyctagenacea
This is a herb that grows on a bulb like underground stem (rhizome). It is widely grown for
the beautiful bell-like flowers that appear on all seasons, the colorful part is the calyx (outer layer
of petals) that is fused to form the tube. Seeds are black with wrinkled surface. This herb blooms
exactly at 4 o clock gaining the name Nalumani meaning 4 O Clock in Malayalam.
Nandiarvattom or Crepe jasmine or Carnation of India
Scientific Name : Tabeamaemontana diverticata
Common Name : Nandiarvattom or Crepe jasmine or Carnation of India
Family
: Apocyanaceae
The plant is a small shrub that produces white fragrant flowers throughout the year, leaves

are simple, dark green, fruits are rarely produced; propagation done mainly through stem
cuttings. These flowers are considered sacred and used for temple performances.
Pala or Black-board tree or Indian devil tree
Scientific Name : Alstonia scholaris
Common Name : Pala or Black-board tree or Indian devil tree
Family
:Apocynaceae
A soft-stemmed tree with highly fragrant tiny flowers that open during night. Several leaves
(seven, nine etc) arise from a single nod and several braches start from the same joint giving the
tree a particular shape. Fruits are long pods that hang in clusters. Pala is believed to be the abode
of fairies by Indian myths! The fragrance of its flower is sweet when light but causes giddiness
when smelled; may be the reason for this innocent tree being called devil tree!
Pitchi, Jathimalli or Common jasmine or Poets jasmine
Scientific Name : Jasminum officinale
Common Name : Pitchi, Jathimalli or Common jasmine or Poets jasmine
Family
: Oleaceae
A weak stemmed climber plant that bears extremely aromatic white flower clusters; this
plants leaves, roots and flowers have medicinal value. Leaves are pinnately compound with
seven leaflets with a larger one at the tip. Laces made of Pitchi flowers are a craze to any Indian
lady and these flowers are sold at high prices.
Rajamalli, Dasa-mandaram or Dwarf poinciana
Scientific Name : Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Common Name : Rajamalli, Dasa-mandaram or Dwarf poinciana
Family
:Fabaceae
The plant is a spiny shrub; it is a garden plant for its beautiful inflorescence with yellow
and reddish flowers; leaves are compound with numerous leaflets. Pods contain five to seven
seeds. As the name indicates this plant is a small shrub that does not grow more than 4 meters in
height.
Sankhu-pushpam, Gokarna, aparojita or Butterfly pea or blue- pea vine
Scientific Name : Clitoria ternatea
Common Name : Sankhu-pushpam, Gokarna, aparojita or Butterfly pea or blue- pea vine
Family
: Fabaceae
The plant is a climber plant that bears blue conch shaped inner part above blue or white lower
petal. Leaves are green pinnately compound, has much medicinal values. The shape of conchshell is behind the name of Shankupushpam; shanku means conch-shell in Malayalam (conchshell is also considered sacred by Hindus).
Thamara, Kamalam, Padmam or Indian lotus
Scientific Name : Nelumbo nucifera
Common Name : Thamara, Kamalam, Padmam or Indian lotus

Family

: Nelumbonaceae

It is an aquatic plant that grows in fresh water lakes and ponds with stem buried in the
ground. Lotus leaves are round and floats on water connected to the stem with long stalks.
Flowers are fragrant and have many red to white colored petals. Lotus is a sacred flower by
Hindus and goddess Saraswati is believed to be seated on a lotus flower (Saraswati is the
goddess of learning and wisdom).
Thetti, Thechi or West Indian jasmine or Jungle geranium
Scientific Name : Ixora coccinia
Common Name : Thetti, Thechi or West Indian jasmine or Jungle geranium
Family
: Rubiaceae
This is an evergreen shrub that grows to less than 8 feet. Flowers are in cymose recemes;
generally brick-red to yellow in color. Thetti is also a sacred plant and used in temple rituals. It is
a widely grown garden plant; leaves are simple and dark green; has extensive use in Ayurvedic
medicines.
Thottavadi or Tickle me plant
Scientific Name : Mimosa pudica
Common Name : Thottavadi or Tickle me plant
Family
: Leguminosae
It has many names such as touch me not, shameful plant, sleeping grass, prayer plant etc due
to its property to temporarily wilt when touched (thigmotropism). It flowers profusely during the
onset of summer and stays flowered until the end of autumn. Flowers are lilac with numerous
stamens giving it a ball shaped beautiful shape. It is a spiny creeping plant and grows in waste
lands and on road-sides. Mimosa plant has medicinal properties that can cure piles, urinary stone
etc.
Thulasi or Holy basil plant is an herb with high medicinal value
Scientific Name : Ocimum tunnuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum
Common Name : Thulasi or Holy basil plant is an herb with high medicinal value
Family
:Laminaceae
It is an herb (about three feet in height) with small aromatic simple leaves; flowers terminal
racemes. It is grown in front of the houses on special platforms and watered and housewives
circumambulate around this plant every morning with folded hands as this plant is supposed to
be a holy one.
Vakha, Gulmohur, Krishna-chura or Royal Poinciana
Scientific Name : Delonix regia
Common Name : Vakha, Gulmohur, Krishna-chura or Royal Poinciana
Family
: Fabaceae
The plant is a weak-stemmed tree with compound leaves with numerous leaflets Its flowers

are extremely beautiful with one white and other four red petals. Fruits are large sword-like pods
with many seeds. A Gulmohur plant at full-bloom is an unforgettable sight.
Velipparuthi or Spanish-flag is a wild invasive spiny shrub
Scientific Name : Lantana camara
Common Name : Velipparuthi or Spanish-flag is a wild invasive spiny shrub
Family
: Verbenaceae
Its flowers are arranged in terminal cymes (that is born at the tip of the branch and in
dumbbell shaped inflorescence). Flowers are tiny but very attractive; younger sporting lighter
color.

Flowers of Kerala (flowers of Kerala with names):

Flowers in Kerala include the popular Kerala flowers such as:

Flower name Kerala flowers scientific names of Description

in English
names (as known flowers in kerala
locally)
Golden
shower

Kanikkonna

Cassia Fistula

This is a golden yellow flower, which

is a vital part of Vishu celebrations.

Thumba plant, Thumbapoo,

thuma flower thumba poove

Leucas aspera

Small flower which is white. Used as

aryevedic medicine, and a mosquito
repellent. Also used as a decorative in
festivals in Kerala.

flower name Mandaram

in English is:
white ordchid
tree

Caesalpiniaceae

Mandaram flowers are white in

colour and are used for pooja
purposes in temples in Kerala.

Pagoda

Clerodendrum

This is a beautiful bright red/ orange

Krishna

Kiradeem plant

panigulatum

coloured plant.

sikerpud

mukkutti

Biophytum
Sensitivum

This plant is a shrub and is yellow

coloured. The plant bears five petals
and is used in ayurveda for its
medicinal properties.

Blackboard
tree / Indian
devil tree

Pala flower

Alstonia Scholaris

This plant has flowers which are

very small and open at night. This
plant is also known for its beautiful
aromatic smell.

Wild balsam

Kashi thumba
flower

Cheruthumba

This plant consists of very small

flowers of a purple/ lilac colour.

West Indian
jasmine

Thetti / thechi

Ixora coccinia

This plant is of a red shade and is

thought of being sacred, therefore it
is offered as prayers in many
temples in Kerala.

The table above shows some of the flowering plants of Kerala, however there are
many more to add to the list.

Flowers
Kerala obtain good rain and has a tropical climate which is very suitable for growing
flowering plants. Due to the climate in Kerala, there are many types of flowers found
abundantly and naturally. Some flowers are common whereas there are some which
are rare. There are flowers grown in home gardens and some are found only in the
forest areas. Different flowers are supported during different climates. The flowers
are used for preparing various ayurvedic medicines as they have many medicinal

properties. Flowers are also used while performing various prayers in temples and
churches. There are some flowers that are poisonous and have pungent smell.
Some of the flowers found in Kerala are
Aambal
It is also called as water lily or star-lotus. It is an aquatic plant having bright
coloured flowers. The stem is submerged in ground and flat round leaves are seen
above the water level. The flowers have many petals and floats over the water
surface.
Arali
It is also called by many names such as Nerium plant, Dog-bane, South-sea rose,
Adalpha etc. It is a shrub grown in garden and has beautiful flowers. They are also
seen as herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. A unique feature of the members of this
family is the production of profuse sap. Even though this sap is poisonous, they are
of much medicinal value.
Arumasam
It is also known as Krishna kireedam or Pagoda plant and is a shrub grown in the
wild. Their terminal inflorescence last for about 6 months and the orange-red- bell
shaped flowers get opened row by row. It is called as Krishna kireedam which
means the crown of lord Krishna because the inflorescence is shaped in such a
way.
Ashokam
It is also known as Galasoka, Anganapriya or Ashoka tree. It is considered to be a
holy tree and its leaves and flowers are used for preparing various ayurvedic
medicines. It flowers during all the seasons and is found usually in the courtyard of
houses. They provide shade during hot seasons for the people and so it is called by
the name Angana priya which means darling of the front yard.
Chempakam
It is also called as Joy-perfume tree. They are seen as both shrubs and trees. The
flowers are shaped like a cup and are fleshy too. The petals and the sepals are not
distinguished. The flowers have a very good fragrance and so are used as a room
freshener and also for making perfumes. Women here like to wear this flower in
their hair due to their high fragrance.
Chemparathi

Chemparathi or hibiscus is a garden plant which is either a shrub or herb. The

flower has sepals and petals and a stalk. The leaves are dark green in colour and
are alternate. This flower is very popular as there are a wide variety of colours and
shapes available. The flowers are used for preparing medicines, dyes etc. The
flowers are used for making hibiscus tea.
Kashithetti
It is also called as Shavam-nari or Madagascar periwinkle. It is an herb with small
and simple leaves. The flowers are white or pink in colour and blooms in every
season. This flower contains alkaloids of medicinal values and hence is cultivated
on a large scale.
Kadaladi
It is also called as Mexican creeper, Rosa De Montana, Queens wreath or Coral
vine. It is a climber and is grown in the wild. The flowers are grown in beautiful
inflorescences. The stem of this plant is flexible and is hence used for making
baskets.
Kanakambaram
It is also called as Abuli or fire-cracker plant. It is a popular shrub and the flowers
are bright coloured. This flower is worn by the women on their hair. The leaves are
simple and the ripe fruits of this plant burst when put in water. Hence, it got the
name fire cracker plant.
Kanikkonna
It is also known as the golden-shower tree. It is the official flower of Kerala. The
flower is golden yellow in colour and is of great importance during the festival Vishu.
During this festival, the kanikkonna is worn on Lord Krishnas idol and is shown to
all as their first sight on the Vishu. They bloom during the Months April-May. When
the flowers bloom, it is a treat to the eye and the leaves are not seen due to the
presence of the golden flower. The petals when fell on the ground is so beautiful to
see which gave the plant the name golden shower.
Kongini
It is also called as bendhi or Pot-marigold plant. It is a annual herb having dark
leaves and weak stems. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and are very beautiful.
The flowers are used for extracting aromatic compounds and dyes. Women wear
these flowers on their hair for any auspicious occasions.
Kulamariyan

It is also called as Madhumalti , Rangoon or Chinese creeper. This creeper grows

wild and spreads very quickly. The flowers have five petals and have plenty of
honey in it. They are white in colour when new and the colour changes to red as the
days pass by. The leaves can be used as anti-worm potion. There are also used for
medicinal purposes and also for making baskets.
Mandaram
Also known by the name Dwarf white bauhinia, it is a garden plant. They attain only
about 2 metres in height. The flowers are white in colour and blooms during all the
season. The flowers have five petals with leaves in the shape of a camel foot. Due
to this shape it is also called as the camel foot plant.
Mukkutti
It is also called as the life-plant. It is a shrub and the flowers are yellow in colour
and bear five petals. The plant collapses when touched or disturbed and after
sometime it regains its shape. They are rich in various medicinal properties and are
used in ayurveda.
Mulla
It is the Jasmine plant and is a popular flower. It has a very good fragrant. The
flowers are white in colour with five petals. There are various species of this plant.
The women wear it on their hair as an ornamental flower.
Nalumani
It is called as the Four O clock plant and is an herb. They are found in all seasons
and has beautiful bell like flowers. The seeds are black in colour. As this flower
blooms at 4 o clock, it got the name four o clock plant or nalumani which means 4
o clock in malayalam.
Neelakurinhi
Since this plant is seen only in the Western Ghats of Malabar, it does not have a
specific English name. A peculiarity of this plant is that they bloom once in 12 to 16
years. The flowers are blue in colour and are a treat to the eye to see this flowers
blue inflorescence in the area where it is found. They flower during the months
August to November. During this time, tourists from various places come to Munnar
where this flower is seen in plenty.
Nandiarvattom
It is also called as Crepe jasmine or Carnation of India. It is a small shrub with
fragrant white flowers. The leaves are simple and the fruits are produced rarely. The

propagation is carried out through stem cuttings. These flowers are used in temples
for performing prayers.
Pala
It is also known as Black-board tree or Indian devil tree. The flowers of this plant are
very small and aromatic and they open during night. The flowers when smelled
causes giddiness. The tree has got a peculiar shape because each node has
around seven to nine leaves arising from it and many branches come from a same
joint. This tree is considered to be the home of fairies according to Indian myths and
so is called as the devil tree.
Pitchi
It is called by various names such as Jathimalli, Common jasmine, Poets jasmine
etc. It is a climber and has white flowers. The plant as a whole is rich in various
medicinal properties. The leaves have seven leaflets. It is an ornamental flower and
is worn by the ladies.
Rajamalli
This spiny shrub is also called as Dasa-mandaram or Dwarf Poinciana. The flowers
are yellow and reddish in colour. The leaves have large number of leaflets.
Sankhu-pushpam
It is also called as Gokarna, aparojita, Butterfly pea or blue- pea vine. It is a climber
and has a blue conch shaped flower. The leaves are rich in medicinal values. As the
flower is conch shaped the plant got its name Shankupushpam where shanku
means conch-shell in Malayalam.
Thamara
It is the lotus plant which is an aquatic plant grown in fresh water lakes and ponds.
The leaves are round shaped and floats in water. The flowers have red to white
coloured petals. It is considered to be a sacred flower of the Hindus and it is
believed that the goddess Saraswathi seats on this flower.
Thetti
This evergreen shrub is also called as Thechi, West Indian jasmine or Jungle
geranium. The flowers are brick-red to yellow in colour. This plant is considered to
be sacred and is used for offering prayers in temples. It is a garden plant with
simple leaves. They are also used for preparing ayurvedic medicines.
Thottavadi

It is called as the Tickle me plant. They are also known by various names such as
touch me not, shameful plant, prayer plant etc. It is because the plant wilts when
touched. The flowers bloom during the end of summer and till the end of autumn.
This plant has medicinal values and is used for curing heath issues such as piles,
urinary stone etc.
Thulasi
Also called as basil plant, is an herb and has several medicinal values. The leaves
are small and aromatic and are grown in front of the houses. They are considered to
be a holy plant.
Thumba
It is called as Leucas plant and is a wild small herb. The flowers are shiny and white
in colour. It has insect repulsive properties and is used in preparing ayurvedic
medicines. This flower is considered to be a main part during the festival Onam,
where flower carpets are made using various flowers.
Vakha
It is also called as Gulmohur, Krishna-chura or Royal Poinciana. It is a weakstemmed tree with beautiful flowers.

Trees
Kerala is a green state having variety of trees. The trees of Kerala are grown in
forests, villages and in cityscapes. Trees are very useful in various ways where it
provides food, medicine, timber, firewood etc. Trees also have many medicinal
values. Some of the main trees found in our state include the following
Thengu (Coconut tree)
Coconut tree is the state tree of Kerala. In Kerala, coconut tree is called
Kalpavriksha and is a tall and branchless tree. The fruit of the tree is big and oval
shaped. Inside the fruit lies the thick brown fibre which surrounds the hard shell.
The sweet and the pleasant edible material and the milk stay within this shell. It is
used in the preparation of almost all kinds of dishes in Kerala. Oil extracted from
Copra obtained by drying the edible part is used for cooking, for making shampoos
and can be applied to the hair for its enrichment. After the oil is extracted the copra
is used as a food for fowls and cattle. Oil is used in the manufacture of soaps and
candles. Coir is the solid skin of the nut and is used for making mats and strong
ropes which are durable in salt water. Tender coconut water is a natural healthy
drink and is good for dysentery, vomiting etc. Toddy obtained from coconut tree is a
beverage. The leaves are used for thatching and the trunk is used for roof beam and
bridges. The hard cases of the nuts are used for manufacturing cups and vessels.

Athi (Cluster fig tree)

This large deciduous tree grows in evergreen forests, moist places, near streams
etc. It is often cultivated in villages and its edible fruit is known for its nutrient
richness. These are trees with aerial roots. Barks are used for rinderpest disease
seen in cattle. Athi is one of the four trees in Nalpamara, a prime mix of ayurveda
includes athi, ithi, arrayal and peraal. Root used in diarrhea and diabetes. Fruit
stomachic and carminative used in hemoptysis. Latex is used for cracks, piles and
diarrhea.
Arayaal (Peepal)
It is also called as Arasu or Bodhi and it is of great medicinal values. Peepal is
closely linked with Indian culture. Most of the temple premises have vast spreading
peepal trees, which was once a platform for social gatherings of devotees. It is
considered as a sacred tree and its leaves are used for religious purposes. It is
believed that Lord Krishna passed away under this tree after which the Kaliyuga had
begun. Lord Buddha attained enlightenment meditating under the Peepal tree.
Peepal leaves have numerous benefits as a result of which it is used in ayurveda. It
is especially useful for patients suffering from jaundice to control urine. For
constipation problem, there can be no better remedy. Peepal leaves can help to get
rid of mumps. Having very thick leaf strength, peepal contributes much to
strengthen the ozone layer releasing large amount of oxygen at any time.
Asokam (Asoka tree)
The flowers are flame coloured, fragrant and are considered that of kamadeva, God
of romance in Hindu mythology. The skin of the bark, leaves, fruits and flowers of
Asoka are used for medicinal purpose. It is used for the treatment of uterine
bleeding, dysmenorrheal-painful menstruation, bleeding piles, and many other
diseases. This herb is rarely used externally and when used, the paste of its barkskin is good for fighting pain associated with swelling. It can be used internally by
women for treating various gynecological disorders. Asoka blooms in the summer
and produces fruits in October. The fruit is bitter and astringent in taste, pungent in
post digestive effect and has a cold potency. It helps to reduce vata and kapha
dosas.
Veppu (Neem)
Neem is popularly known as divine tree. Ability to purify air makes it an inevitable
part of courtyard trees. The neem tree is drought resistance and is found in areas
with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions where annual rainfall between 400 and
1200mm. It grows in regions where annual rainfall is below 400mm and in such
cases it depends upon ground water levels. Products made from neem have several
medicinal properties such as antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial and many others.

It is a major ingredient in ayurvedic medicine and is prescribed for skin disease. It is

a source of environment-friendly biopesticides.
Elanji (West Indian Medlar)
Elanji is a tropical tree that produces tiny flowers having sweet aroma during night.
The leaves form a part of perfumes with intoxicating fragrance. The fruit is edible,
has a thick outer skin which encloses sweet yellow pulp and a hard shell seed.
Different parts of the tree have medicinal properties. In Kerala, people are very
familiar to Elanjithara melam, very scintillating and highly appreciated percussion
held at Elanjithara in the Vadakkumnatha temple compound during Thrissur
Pooram.
Kanikkonna (Golden Shower tree)
It is also known as the golden-shower tree. It is the official flower of Kerala. The
flower is golden yellow in colour and is of great importance during the festival Vishu.
During this festival, the kanikkonna is worn on Lord Krishnas idol and is shown to
all as their first sight on the Vishu. They bloom during the Months April-May. When
the flowers bloom, it is a treat to the eye and the leaves are not seen due to the
presence of the golden flower. The petals when fell on the ground is so beautiful to
see which gave the plant the name golden shower. The tree is an indicator of rain,
blooming before the onset of monsoon. Parts of the tree such as roots, bark and
fruit pulp are often used in ayurvedic medicines. The bark of the tree is rich in
tannins and is used in leather processing and fabric colouring.
Kanjiram (Nuxvomica)
Basically Kanjiram is a perennial tree. It is medium-sized with short, thick, trunk. It
can be used in the form of tonic, stimulant and febrifuge. The useful parts of the
plant are seed, bark, roots and leaves. The plant is also good to pacify vitiates
kapha, vata, hypotension, arthritis and dementia. In large doses all part of the tree
is toxic. Kanjiram is good for upset stomach, constipation, hangovers, heartburn,
certain heart diseases, circulatory problems, depression, headaches, nervous
conditions and respiratory diseases. Thus, kanjiram is a one end solution for almost
all intestinal and nervous disorders.
Ilavu (Silk cotton tree)
It is a deciduous tree with a straight trunk and spreading branches. Flowers are red
in colour and the seeds contain stable oils. It is used to cure vata and pitta
disorders. It helps in relieving from burning sensation and it removes mark caused
due to burning. It is also a remedy for dysentery, diarrhea, cough, cold and general
body weakness.
Karinochi (Five leaved chaste tree)

Karinochi is a large aromatic shrub whose leaves and roots have medicinal
properties. The juice of the leaves have anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, anti fungal
and analgesic properties. It is also used in the treatment of bruises, injuries and
other skin infections. Leaves are used like tea for getting relief from cough and
asthma. The root is used to cure the dyspepsia, colic, rheumatism, worms and
leprosy. The flowers are used for curing diseases like diarrhea, cholera, fever and
diseases of liver. The seeds are a cooling medicine for various skin diseases.
Karivelam (Acacia)
It is a small to moderate sized thorny tree that grows up to 10 m in height and has
golden flowers. Bark and gum are useful part of the tree.
Ezhilam pala (Devil tree)
Ezhilam pala, the name itself makes one to think of Yakshi, is a moderate to large
sized evergreen tree which grows up to 30 m in height. The leaves come out in
whorls of seven, elliptic-oblong, obtuse and petiolate, flowers small greenish white,
found in umbellate cymes, fruits follicles about 50 cm long, contain papillose seeds
with hairs on each ends. The blooms are associated with very strong aroma. The
soft wood is used for manufacturing packing cases, match sticks, black boards,
pencils etc.
Koovalam (Wood apple)
Its mythological links to Lord Shiva makes Koovalam a sacred plant to Hindus. The
garland made of koovalam leaves is special to Lord Shiva and this tree is planted in
the temple premises. Very much known for its medicinal properties, unripe or half
ripe fruits are used as astringent, digestive etc. Its cooled aromatic pulp can be
used to cure diabetes, inflammation, diarrhea, constipation etc. The fruits are edible
and the bark of the tree is toxic.
Karingali (Cutch)
It is a perennial tree which quenches severe thirst and has high medicinal value. It
is a medium sized thorny deciduous tree with beautiful flowers. Karingali is good for
diabetic patients. Its stem is used for brushing teeth to protect gums and teeth from
decay. Drinking water boiled with dried karingali powder has brownish colour and it
acts as a good appetizer. Karingali is an essential ingredient of arishtam and
kashayam, good for curing the illness of cough, itching etc. It can be planted as an
ornamental tree.
Nenmeni Vaka (East Indian Walnut)

Nenmeni vaka is a medium sized deciduous tree, makes a haven of pinkish white or
yellowish white fragrant flowers. Bark, flowers and seed of the plant pacifies vitiated
pitta, kapha, urinary retention etc. It is used to produce timber.
Choondappana (Wine Palm)
Choondappana is one of the commonest wild palms on the Western Ghats. Its
ornamental feature makes an attractive pot plant at its young age. The stem of the
tree is smooth and similar to cylinders in shape. The fruits are reddish in colour. The
wood is much stronger and durable than the other palm trees and is useful for
domestic purposes. Toddy can be obtained by tapping. If you remove the fatal bud
or the cabbage of the tree, it will kill the tree. Fibre that is made from the sheaths of
the leaf stalks is very strong and can be used in making ropes, brushes etc.
Palakappayani (Indian trumfruit tree)
Palakappayani is a night bloomer which has a strong stinky odour and attracts bats.
It is an evergreen deciduous tree and is pollinated naturally by bats. The roots are
sweet, astringent, bitter, refrigerant and are used for treating various health issues.
The paste of the stem bark is applied for curing scabies and arthritis.
Poovarasu / Cheelanthi (Portia tree)
Poovarasu, which has beautiful yellow flower, is an evergreen tree with high
medicinal value. Its leaves, bark and flowers are used in Ayurvedic medicines for
skin disease, jaundice and cough. Being salt resistant, this tree is more commonly
seen in the coastal belt. Different parts of Poovarasu are used in the treatment of
various disorders. It is also used for making furniture.
Chempakam (Sampoo)
Chempakam is also known as champak and is a perennial flowering tree mostly
found in Kerala. Its flowers are used to produce certain essential oils for
aromatherapy. Flower oil is used for cephalagia. Its strong fragrant yellow or white
flowers are used in the perfume manufacturing. It is known for its medicinal
properties and is used to cure stomachic, fever etc.
Chandanam (Sandal wood)
Sandalwood is an evergreen tree known for its cooling and healing properties. It has
small dull purple flowers in small bunches and round purple black succulent fruits.
Its sedative and cooling property makes a remedy for prickly heat, excessive
sweating and inflammation problems of the skin. Sandalwood in various forms
paste, dry powder or oil mixed with others can be used for profuse sweating.
Sandalwood powder is useful in the treatment of gonorrhea. Sandalwood oil is used
in treating, painful and difficult urination and inflammation of the bladder. Incense

from sandalwood has a calming effect and is conducive to pacify mind. Sandalwood
paste is a vital ingredient in the Hindu rituals. It is believed that the sandalwood
paste has the power to increase the concentration power of an individual when
smeared on forehead constantly. Sandalwood paste applied on head relieves
headache and bring down the temperature in fever.
Thek (Teak wood)
The teak tree is one of the tropical hardwood trees which can grow 30 to 40 m in
height and often live to an age of 100 years. Its longevity is very great and specially
noted for its capacity to withstand seasonal variations. The resin present in the
heartwood in highly water resistant and it protects the teak from decay, insects and
bacteria. Other characteristics of teak wood are durability, elasticity and presence of
solid fibre. It is also used for making indoor and outdoor furniture making.
Punna (Alexandrian laurel)
Punna is a large evergreen tree, has hard and strong wood. It has been mainly used
in construction of boats. Punnakka or the fruit is a favourite feed of the bats. It is a
most wanted ingredient in cosmetics.
Plasu / Chamata (Flame of the forest)
Chamata is the version of Sanskrit word Samidha, which is a wooden piece used
for fire rituals. It is dry season deciduous tree and is used for timber, resin, fodder,
medicine and dye. Its wood is water durable and is used for well curbs and water
scoops.
Eeti / Veti (East Indian Rosewood )
Eeti is premium quality timber species internationally known as Indian Rosewood. It
is used to make furniture and ornamental products. The tree attains a height of 20 to
40 m. The colour of the heart wood darkens with time and the colour varies from
light golden brown to light purple with dark streaks. The wood has high density and
so is difficult to work on it and has fragrance. Rosewood has dimensional stability
and therefore regains the shape after seasoning. The heartwood is durable and
resistant to termites.
Venga (Malabar keno)
Venga is a large deciduous tree which commonly grown in western and southern
parts of India. Parts of the plant like heartwood, leaves and flowers have medicinal
properties. It helps to improve insulin and proinsulin levels. The heartwood is used
as astringent, anti inflammatory etc.
Kavungu (Areca nut tree)

Kavungu is used as kodimaram during festivals in temples. Chewing the mixture of

areca nut with betal leaf, tobacco and lime paste was an integral part of day to day
life. Areca nut is an important item in dakshina to elders. It is a way to show respect
to elders. The husk of the areca nut is green while fresh and becomes yellow to
orange when it ripens. As it dries, the fruit inside hardens and can only be sliced
using nut cracker.
Karimpana (Palmyra palm tree)
The tree has a very important role in taking knowledge from past to the present
generation with the inscriptions made on its leaves. In ancient times, manuscripts
like Upanishads, Panchathantra were inscribed on Palm leaves. The tree is tall with
black cylinder like stem and has fan shaped leaves. The leaves are used to make
fans, mats, baskets etc. They can also be used for thatching roofs. The toddy
obtained by tapping the tip of the inflorescence is a very popular beverage.
Manchadi (Red sandal wood)
Manchadi is a medicinal plant and the seeds are bright red with hard shells. This
plant is useful for nitrogen fixation. It is often cultivated as forage and an ornamental
plant. The wood is extremely hard and is used in boat building and making furniture.
The tree is useful in treating boils, used for making soap, tonic etc.
Kudappana / Talippana (Talipot palm)
Kudappana which is one of the largest palm in the world has the largest
inflorescence. The palm is monocarp, flowering only once, when it is 30 to 80 years
old. The fruit takes a year to get matured and produces numerous round and yellow
green fruit that has a single seed. The plant dies after producing the fruit. In Malabar
area, the palm leaves were used for making traditional umbrellas. The leaves are
used for thatching and making hats etc.
Chempa / Ezhachempakam (Temple tree)
Chempa is a broadly grown tree having some very exotic followers. As it produces
leaves and flowers even after being lifted from the soil the Buddhists think the tree
as a symbol of immortality. It is usually planted near temples and is used in temples
for pooja. Funnel shaped flowers have five petals. This combined with sandalwood
oil and camphor is best for itching.
Vella mandaram (Buddhist Bauhinia)
Vella mandaram, a perennial tree has sweetly scented white flowers. These flowers
boom from January to April and then followed by long, slender seedpods. Before the
leaves fall, the tree is covered with many delightfully fragrant, white, orchid shaped
blossoms. The root of the plant is used as carminative and flower buds as laxative.

Chuvanna mandaram (Bauhinia purpurea)

Chuvanna manadaram is a large moderate sized deciduous tree that grows up to 10
m in height. It is related to peacock flower and is beautiful when in bloom. The
flowers are five irregular, slightly overlapping petals in colours of magenta, lavender,
purple etc. The bark, flowers and roots of the tree has medicinal properties.

Fruits Giving Plants

Kerala is a green state and there are a wide variety of trees and plants. There are
different species of trees and some of them are cultivated for fruits. Some of the
main fruit giving trees of Kerala are mentioned here.
Plavu (Jack fruit tree)
Plavu is a large evergreen spreading tree known for the largest tree borne fruit in
the world. Jack fruit tree is mostly seen in the tropical lowlands. This fruits is large
and fleshy and are covered with thorny tubercles. Unripe fruits can be cooked. The
seeds may be boiled or baked. Amongst a number of varieties of jackfruits, the
honey-jack (muttan varikka or thaen varikka) is considered the sweetest and the
best. The flesh is starchy and fibrous and provides energy. Jack fruit tree is used in
the treatment of various diseases such as vitiated vata, pitta, diarrhea, skin disease,
urinary retention and general weakness. The timber of the tree is used for making
furniture as it is termite-proof. The core of the aged and seasoned jackfruit tree
(Varikka plavu) is used to make the two feet body of the chenda. Ammachi plave,
the name given to an old jackfruit tree in the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple at
Neyyattinkara near Thiruvananthapuram, is legendarily connected with the time of
Marthanda Varma, the founder of Modern Travancore. It is believed that the King
escaped from his enemies by hiding in the huge hollow of the Ammachi Plavu.
Mavu (Mango tree)
Mango, the king of fruits, is one of the most popular of the tropical fruit varieties.
Mango has undergone considerable varietal differentiation. In India alone, over 100
named varieties are known. Apart from these, millions of seedling trees grow
throughout the country, each of which has its own distinctive characteristics. A major
portion of mango trees in Kerala are of seedling origin. Tender and mature but
unripe mangoes are extensively used for making pickles and chutney. Ripe fruits are
eaten as such. A variety of products are made out of this. They are canned mango
slices, mango pulp, jam, juice, custard powder, ready to serve mango beverages,
toffees etc.
Vazha (Banana)
About 50-60 tonns of bananas is exported from Kerala every day. Though nenthran
comprises the lions share, a lot of varieties are available in the market with different

colours, sizes and taste. The popular varieties include palayankodan,

sahasrapadali, ayiram poovan, poovan, nenthran, kumpillaannan, malayannan,
thottannan, kadali, rasakadali (njaalipoovan), chenkadali (kappa), kaliyethan,
chengali, aattunenthran, pachakkappa, robesta, matti, padatti, peyan, monthan,
annan etc. Bananas have a variety of sizes and colours when ripe. The colours are
yellow, purple and red. Ripe bananas are very sweet and they can be eaten raw
whereas unripe can cooked and eaten. The banana plants trunk when peeled has a
tender core which is edible when cooked. Similarly the flower is also used for
delicious dishes. Banana leaves are often used as plates or disposable food
containers where people consider it as a plate to have their food on this leaf. Taking
banana helps to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer and renal
cell carcinoma in women. Those who have latex allergy get reaction if banana is
consumed.
Omaikka (Papaya)
The papaya is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, in the genus carica. It is a very
large plant and has a single stem that grows to a height of around 5 to 10 meters
tall. The leaves are seen only in the top of the trunk and are arranged in a spiral
manner. The ripe fruit is eaten raw whereas the unripe fruit of papaya is cooked and
eaten. They are used to make curries, salads and stews. It has high amount of
pectin in it that can be used to make jellies. Some of the various uses of papaya are
that it is used as a cooking aid, in medicine etc. Soup of tender papaya (boiled in
water) or slices of unripe papaya is consumed to terminate unwanted pregnancy in
the early stages of conceiving.
Seethaappazham (Custard Apple)
This is a small deciduous or semi evergreen tree which attains a height of about 10
metres. It is largely found in the tropical regions where the climate is humid and
warm. The custard apple is a native of the West Indies and later it was taken to
Southern Mexico. The fruits are variable in shape and are irregular having a size of
about 7 cms to 12 cms. The ripe fruit is brown or yellowish in colour with red
highlights. The fruit has a sweet and pleasant flavor. The pulp of the fruit can be
eaten and can be also used to make a drink which can be consumed as a substitute
to milk. The unripe fruit can be used to cure diarrhea and dysentery. The bark of the
tree can be used for skin. The leaves have healing properties and are also used
against diseases like tumors and cancers. Toothaches can be relieved by using the
bark of this tree. Even though the seeds are hard they may be swallowed as whole
as it shows no ill effects but the kernels are poisonous. All parts of the tree including
the seeds, leaves and fruits are insecticidal and the juice of the leaf can be used to
kill lice.
Kasumavu (Cashew)

The cashew is a tree which is native to northeastern Brazil. They are grown mainly
for the cashew nuts and cashew apples. While processing cashew we obtain the
cashew nutshell liquid which is rich in anacardic acids. This can be used effectively
against tooth problems as they are harmful to the gram-positive bacteria. They also
act against many other gram-positive bacteria. The cashew nut is a favourite snack
of all and they are consumed as such or lightly salted or sugared. These cashew
nuts are also covered with chocolate and sold and they are very costly too.
Manilakkara (Sapodilla)
Sapodilla is a long lived, evergreen tree. Sapodilla grows to 3-4 m tall and is
resistant to wind. The bark of the tree is rich in white, gummy latex. The green and
glossy leaves appear alternately and are elliptical in shape. The flowers are white in
colour and have a bell shape. The fruit is large with an elliptical shape and
resembles a potato and has around 2-5 seeds inside. The flesh of the fruit has a
pale yellow to brown colour with a grainy texture that is similar to a ripened pear.
The trees survive in warm, and tropical environments and they die quickly if the
temperature goes below freezing. After germination, this tree takes around 5-8
years to bear a fruit. The fruits are produced twice in a year but they flowers the
whole year round.
Nelli (Indian Gooseberry)
Nelli is largely cultivated for its berries called Nellikka, because the fresh and dried
fruits are used in Ayurvedic medicine. The taste of this fruit is a mixture of sour,
bitter and astringent. The sour taste changes to sweet if we drink water along with it.
All parts such as the fruit, its seeds, leaves, root, bark as well as the leaves have
various medicinal properties and hence used in preparing ayurvedic medicines.
Nellikka can be used to balance vata because of its sour taste and kapha as a result
of its astringent taste and drying action. It is used as a rasayana for curing various
health issues such as digestion problems, constipation, fever, blood purification,
cough, asthma etc. Nellikka is a main ingredient to prepare the HERBAL rasayana
called Chyavanaprash. The fruit is consumed as such or is used to prepare pickles.
Njaval / Njaara (Black Plum)
One who loved to colour the tongue purple in childhood days will never forget this
purple fruit jamun. The fruit is known for its sweet, sour and astringent flavor. It is a
large evergreen tree with white fragrant flowers and black fruit with pink juicy pulp.
This fast growing tree lives for more than 100 years. Its dense leaves provide shade
and can be grown for its ornamental value. The wood is strong and is water
resistant. Because of this it is used in railway sleepers and to install motors in wells.
This tree starts to flower in the months March to April. The fruits begin to develop by
May or June and looks like large berries. The fruit is green and changes to a pink to
shining black colour when it matures. A variant of this tree has a white coloured fruit.
The seed has medicinal values and is used in ayurveda to control diseases like

diabetes and also for digestive ailments. The leaves and bark are also useful for
controlling blood pressure. Wine and vinegar are also made from the fruit. It is a
high source of vitamin A and vitamin C.
Kodukappuli (Manila Tamarind)
The well known adage An apple a day keeps a doctor away may be modified thus
A kodukappuli a day may indeed keep pain away. This is an evergreen tree which
grows very fast and has a crooked trunk with small branches that arise from the
base of the leaves. The flowers are greenish white in colour, fragrant and it
produces a pod with an edible pulp. The liquid obtained by boiling the bark can be
used for curing frequent bowel movement. Decoctions of leaves are used for
digestion problems and used as abortifacient. Flowering occurs from January to
March and the fruit ripens from April to July. The hard timber is used for various
purposes such as for construction, packing cases, making fences, cart building and
agricultural tools.
Sheema nelli (Star gooseberry)
Indigenous fruit trees like Sheema nelli that does not require much care and
attention is a boon to every household. The tree often bears fruit twice a year in,
first during April to May and then during August-September. Star gooseberry fruit is
known to contain extremely high amounts of natural vitamin C- an antioxidant with
potent anti-ageing properties. It has only one seed in each fruit. The flowers are
male, female or hermaphrodite and are small, pinkish in colour and appear in
clusters.
Kadaplavu /Seemaplavu (Bread fruit)
Bread fruit is a high yielding food plant and is consumed baked, boiled, fried,
steamed or roasted like potatoes. It is grown in most of the homesteads of Kerala.
Breadfruit trees grow to a height of 20 m. The leaves are large which are deeply cut
into pinnate lobes.
Elimbi / Pulinchi (Cucumber tree)
This tree grows well when there is evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year.
The flowers and fruits arise from the trunk as well as from the branches. The unripe
fruit is bright green and crispy and changes yellowish when it ripens. The flesh is
green in colour and acidic and can be consumed as raw itself with salt. The skin of
the fruit is glossy and thin. They are also used for making pickles. The elimbi leaves
are used in the treatment of venereal disease. The decoction of the leaf can be
taken as a medicine for rectal inflammation. They are also effective against coughs.
Puli (Tamarind)

Puli, a widely cultivated or naturally grown perennial tree are mainly used as a
spice. The sour and fruity taste of tamarind makes it a vital spice of most of the
culinary items. It is widely used to provide a sweet and tart flavor to savoury dishes.
The tamarind pulp is used as condiment in dishes. It also has many medicinal
properties. The paste prepared by crushing the leaves is a quick remedy for boils
and swellings. The leaves also have a cooling effect and hence used in the
treatment of cold and relieves liver congestion, chronic constipation etc. It is also an
anti-hemorrhoid. People have a belief that if they stand under the shade of this plant
for a long time it may affect their health which may even cause death. Hence this
tree is also known as Yamaduthika which means the messenger of Yama, the
Hindu god of death. The ripe fruit is an appetizer and also used for healing wounds
and fractures.
Pera (Guava)
Guava trees are small shrubby evergreen trees, with a lot of strong bony like
branches. It is commonly found throughout Kerala and the main variety of guava
cultivated and sold here is the apple guava. The fruits are fleshy and have a sweet
taste. The fruit is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin
A, vitamin B3, vitamin B4 etc. Natural propagation is by birds and small animals.
Different parts of the tree have medicinal properties. The decoction of the leaves
and bark of this tree are sued for treating various ailments such as diarrhea,
dysentery, vomiting and sore throats, and also for regulating the menstrual cycles.
They are also gargled to relieve oral ulcers and inflamed gums. The crushed leaves
when applied on wounds relieves pain.

1. Visit the National Book Trust website. Their 'Book Garden Flowers' by Vishnu Swarup is
good. Rs 70/-. I have had good results in Delhi
2. Bangalore has many places to buy Cactus and succulents.
3. Spider plants, Crotons, China Orange and China Guava should do well in the South.

1.Kumquats have been called "the little gems of the citrus family". In South India, they can be grown only
at high elevations. For more details go thru this link http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morto...
2. India has a rich orchid heritage and is recognized the world over as a significant producer of both wild
and hybrid orchids. Over 1,600 species of orchids are found in India which constitute almost 10 percent of
the world orchid flora. Indian orchids include many variety with proven floriculture and/or herbal traits. The
beautiful green state of Kerala is also edged by the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on
the other. Munnar hill station of Kerala has a large variety of orchids. Among the exotic flora found in the
forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji flower (Strobilanthus) that bathes these hills in blue once
in 12 years. This flower will bloom next in the year 2006. The Periyar wildlife sanctuary has over 1800
flowering plants and 143 species of orchids. The only south Indian conifer Podocarpus Wallichianus

grows here.
On a drive along the Kerala highway, trees with huge masses of orchids are a common sight. The most
common species found in the plains are the gorgeous Acampe praemorsa which has yellow flowers with
red strips. They bloom in March and June. Other common species are Dendrobium macrostachyum and
Pholidota pallida. Orchids found on the hilly ranges are the 'fox tails' Rhynchostylis retusa with white and
pink flowers and Aerides multiflora.
The southern hill stations of Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud are also very rich in orchids. Ooty has a
beautiful Botanical garden, extending over 22 acres, with exotic trees, ornamental plants and undulating
lawns. A marvelous flower show is held here every May. Shenbaganur Museum at Kodaikanal has about
350 varieties of orchids. Besides this, there is Bryant Park, a botanical park laid out, landscaped and
stocked over many years by the British Officer, after whom it is named. Yercaud also has a National
Orchidarium.
3. TREE FERN. Asparagus virgatus. A relative of the Asparagus fern, this plant grows more like a bush
with many graceful fronds. An excellent compliment plant for a ficus. Tropical houseplant.
4. ASPARAGUS FERN. SPRINGER'S ASPARAGUS. Asparagus densiflorus v. sprengeri. A charming
plant with long, delicate, graceful fronds. An excellent houseplant that withstands abuse. Tiny white
flowers with red fruit. Excellent for hanging baskets. Tropical houseplant.
5. CANDLEBUSH. Cassia alata. A tropical plant that is easily grown indoors. Has handsome foliage and
candle-like spikes of yellow flowers. A must for every houseplant lover
6. MICKEY MOUSE PLANT. Ochna serrulata. A delightful evergreen shrub to 5 ft. with leathery, oblong
leaves. Glossy calyx turns red then black against a background of red petals which do represent the
Mickey Mouse image. A tropical plant well suited for inside. Kids love them!
7. LUCIFER'S TORCH. Canna indica. A delicate slender plant with well-appointed bamboo-like canes and
long slim leaves, bright green. The exceptionally beautiful flowers are flaming orange-maroon with
extremely pretty petals that attract humming birds. A delightful sight to behold inside or outside of any
home. Can be raised outside in cool climates, but rhizomes but be dug up and stored in a cool dry place
for the winter.
8. NIGHT JESSAMINE. (Jazmn del Noche) Cestrum nocturnum. A Jessamine-like plant that will fill a
house with fragrance when their white tubular flowers open at night. Handsome green foliage. Easy to
grow from seeds. Hardy. Will reach up to six ft. tall.
9. ORANGE JASMINE. (Jazmn Naranja) Murraya exotica. A beautiful shrub that is easy to raise in
containers and has extremely fragrant flowers that resemble those of the citrus bush. The fragrance of the
flowers can be distinguished several feet away. The plant has beautiful foliage and can be raised outside
in the South. Extremely hard seeds.
10. COFFEE PLANT. Coffea arabica catura. The world's most important trade crop also makes a
wonderful house plant. The plants have dark shiny-green leaves and white fragrant flowers. A very
ornamental plant. Very unique.
11. DAFFODIL TREE. Thevitia peruviana. A well-groomed rich-looking evergreen with long narrow
luxuriant, glossy leaves with edges rolled under large 4 inch (10 cm) funnel shaped flowers. These flowers
are predominantly yellow, shading to pink or orange, and are sweetly fragrant.
12. GARDENIA FLOWER. Gardenia jasminoides. An ornamental shrub of mystical, and outstanding
beauty. Besides being a splendid, easily grown plant, it also produces an unforgettable scent, an
ingredient of romance. The pure-white flowers average 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter and bloom in
profusion.

13. RUBBER TREE PLANT. Ficus decora. Another popular member of the Ficus family. Although rather
expensive to purchase as plants from nurseries, it can be raised for pennies each from seed.
14. SENSITIVE PLANT. Dormilona. Mimosa pudica. A small shrub that has pale green pinnate leaves that
retract when touched, the stalks bending at the same time; after half an hour, if not further disturbed, the
leaves resume their normal position. The global flower heads are pink and feathery.
15. ORNAMENTAL BANANA. Musa ornata. A compact banana plant for indoors that only grows to about
5 ft. Attractive flowers are followed by small banana fruit. The seeds are slow to germinate but well worth
the wait. Makes a great gift!.