Tag: Plant Profile

That’s really the whole use case for us: kitchen tree first. The Basics Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix, is a small citrus tree in the family Rutaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to Southeast Asia, where its leaves are a cornerstone flavoring in Thai, Lao, and other regional cuisines. What It Looks Like A small, often thorny…

Another one from the early species count, a native tree we’re glad to have going even without a specific planting memory attached to it. The Basics Koaia, Acacia koaia, is a native Hawaiian tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, and a close relative of koa. Origin and Habitat Endemic to Hawaii, typically found in drier…

Part of the running list from the one-tree-a-day year, a native Hawaiian tree, a quiet presence rather than a headline. The Basics Kou, Cordia subcordata, is a tree native to Hawaii and the wider Pacific, in the family Boraginaceae. Origin and Habitat Found throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean coastlines, including Hawaii, typically in…

That’s a serious amount of marmalade potential if we ever get around to it. The Basics Meiwa kumquat is a grafted variety of kumquat, in the citrus family, Rutaceae. Origin and Habitat Kumquats originate in China and have long been cultivated across East Asia before spreading worldwide as an ornamental and edible citrus. What It…

Ugly little fruit, but supposedly a pleasant citrus-like flavor inside once it’s picked at exactly the right ripeness. The Basics Kwai muk, Artocarpus parvus, is a tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae, and another jackfruit and breadfruit relative. Origin and Habitat Native to southern China and Hong Kong, a less commonly cultivated member of the…

A friend brought over fresh lychee and longan one day and it got me thinking about similar fruits, which led to planting this one. The Basics Langsat, Lansium parasiticum, is a tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae — not related to lychee or rambutan despite the resemblance. Origin and Habitat Native to the Malay Archipelago…

On the list from the big species count, one of the mangosteen relatives we’re growing. The Basics Lemon drop mangosteen, Garcinia intermedia, is a tree in the family Clusiaceae, related to true mangosteen. Origin and Habitat Native to Central America, ranging from Mexico down through Panama. What It Looks Like Smaller and generally easier to…

The Japanese have grown this one for over a thousand years, they call it biwa, and use it in all kinds of things. Ours is still working on catching up to that kind of history. The Basics Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is a tree in the rose family, Rosaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to China, though…

Yellow, bumpy-skinned fruit with a sour, lemony, almost cotton-candy-like pulp inside once you get past the skin. The Basics Madruno, Garcinia madruno, is a tree in the family Clusiaceae, a relative of mangosteen. Origin and Habitat Native to northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. What It Looks Like Bears yellow, bumpy-skinned fruit, less…

One that sat in a pot too long before I finally couldn’t bring myself to compost it and put it in the ground instead. The Basics African mahogany, Khaya species, is a large hardwood tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. Origin and Habitat Native to tropical Africa, prized worldwide for its timber. What It Looks…