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Curry Leaf

Murraya koenigii
Also known as: Curry Tree, Sweet Neem

Curry Leaf is a herb in the Rutaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 9-12.

Varieties

1 · sorted by days to maturity
  • Curry Leaf

    PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Woody tree (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Aromatic leaves essential to South Indian cooking. Harvest: Pick fresh leaves as needed year-round.

    Curry Leaf (Murraya koenigii) is a tropical small tree whose aromatic leaves are a staple of South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking - not to be confused with the unrelated 'curry plant' (Helichrysum). Usually propagated from suckers or cuttings. Hardy zones 9-12; a popular container plant elsewhere.

    Growing notes: Botanical name: Murraya koenigii|Hardiness zones: 9-12|Propagation: cutting/sucker/seed|Sun needs: Full sun to part shade|Water needs: Medium|Mature height: 6-15 feet|Spacing: 48 inches|Harvest: Pick fresh leaves as needed year-round

Family
Rutaceae
Category
Herb
Form
Shrub
Lifecycle
perennial
Zone
9-12
Height
6–15 ft
Spread
4–8 ft
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
Medium

Plan your curry leaf planting

Add curry leaf to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

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At a glance

Frost tolerance
Tender · to ~32°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives

Storing & preserving

Refrigerate stems in water, or wrap in a damp towel for a few days.

  • Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
  • Freeze: Freeze chopped in oil or water in ice-cube trays.

General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Growing timeline

Propagation
Cutting
Schedule anchor
Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting

No curated care & troubleshooting advice for curry leaf yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.