Moringa Research Products™ Division
Moringa Seeds for Sale
Our International Moringa Seed Bank Holds the World’s Largest Selection of Seeds and Now You Can Make Withdrawals!
 Typical Seeds of Moringa oleifera |
PURCHASING GUIDANCE
This website was originally developed as mostly an educational and research resource so our SEED CATALOG and store listings can be a bit overwhelming. Regardless of where you purchase moringa seeds we offer these QUALITY GUIDELINES.
Here are some steps to help you select seeds and our recommendations:
Seeds for Small plantings. For customers wanting to grow a few trees in home gardens we recommend purchasing a small amount of seeds of the common Indian moringa (Moringa oleifera). We have had excellent results with the indeterminant growth varieties from Peru and South Africa. These may grow faster and taller than the more bushy formed determinant varieties but will require more frequent trimming and may not bloom and produce edible pods in the first year. The variety from Nicaragua and widely planted Periyakulam 1 and 2 (PKM1 and PKM2) varieties from India are recommended determinant varieties for home gardens. Both the determinant and indeterminant varieties are suitable for leaf production.
Seeds for Larger Plantings. For new farms and other large plantings growers should consider these factors before selecting seeds:
Product Goal. The types of products (leaves, edible pods, seeds, seed oil or biofuels) to be produced from the crop are an important consideration in selecting seeds. Some varieties have been specifically developed for production of different products. Information on the suitability of various varieties for different products is found HERE.
Form of Growth. There are significant differences in the growth forms and rates among the indeterminant, determinant and dwarf varieties. These terms are defined in our SEED CATALOG and we will be attempting to classify the listed seeds according to these classifications. The determinant forms are now the most widely grown because they are shorter, easier to harvest and require less trimming. Most of them are also annual varieties that can produce pods in the first year of planting. The indeterminant or standard varieties tend to be longer lived and may offer greater genetic diversity and adaptability that the determinant types. They may also be more suited to intercropping situations where taller, less bushy growth forms are needed. This is the subject of some our current research projects.
Method of Cultivation. Moringa grown for leaf products has the highest productivity when the trees are grown close together in intensive cultivation. Varieties such as MOL’E from India have been specifically developed for growing this way. Trees grown for production of edible pods and seed oil products have to be allowed to mature and spaced accordingly. This affects layout, spacing requirements and selection of seeds.
Genetic Diversity. From our field trials we have seen highly variable performance among the different varieties planted under identical conditions at the same site. For this reason we most strongly recommend planting small amounts of a wide variety of seeds for testing before selecting seeds for planting large areas.
Sourcing. Most of the named and widely planted varieties of Moringa oleifera were developed in India and adapted to growing conditions there. Many of these are from pure line plant breeding methods. As such they may have limited genetic diversity and ability to adapt to growing conditions in other areas. For these reasons we strongly recommend obtaining seeds for field trials and testing from multiple growing locations.
Even if you intend to only plant one variety we recommend planting seeds of different lot numbers as these may have different farm sources and perhaps wider genetic diversity. To assist in selecting seeds from we have listed them in a section of our online store by their growing location. We also offer worldwide and regional seed mixtures that provide a genetically diverse array of seeds from multiple sources at low cost. The disadvantage of these mixtures is that you will not be able to identify and obtain more seeds of the best performing seeds for additional plantings.
Ornamentals for Landscaping. Some species of moringa may not be suitable for crop production but make interesting specimen trees for landscaping in tropical climates. Growing these may also provide new growing areas for threatened or endangered species and seed production. Moringa drouhardii and M. hildebrandtii, species of moringa with the bottle tree forms, make interesting ornamentals and are easy to grow.
 Seeds of Moringa hildebrandtii |
Moringa for Temperate Climates. Moringa will generally not survive in areas with cold winters. There are three general strategies for dealing with this:
Grow as Annual Crop. The first option is to grow moringa as an annual crop for leaf production. Start the seeds indoors in late winter and plant them outdoors when the danger of frost is past. They generally grow fast during the late spring and summer, and produce abundant leaves until the fall and onset of colder temperatures. It is unlikely that they will produce pods when grown as an annual crop.
Plant a More Cold Tolerant Variety. There is scant information on the cold tolerance of moringa species and varieties. One variety of Moringa oleifera known as South Texas 1 (STX1) has reportedly survived temperate winters in Texas with freezing temperatures. Moringa stenopetala (African moringa) has reportedly survived temperatures as low as 27°F in the Coachella Valley of California. Seeds of STX-1 and African moringa are available from our online store.
Dwarf Varieties. Dwarf varieties of Moringa oleifera can be kept in containers and moved indoors when the when the weather becomes to cold. We offer a wide selection of seeds of these dwarf varieties. Based on limited testing here in Hawai`i, there does not seem to be significant differences in the performance of the these. We recommend trying the dwarf variety of Periyakulam 2 (PKM2) which is most economical.
Moringa for Arid Climates. There is a dire need for crops that can be grown in the previously productive agricultural areas of the world experiencing severe drought amplified by climate change. Most species of moringa have significant drought tolerance. This means that once the trees are established they may survive through periods of drought but they may loose their leaves and not be productive until water becomes available. Some varieties and ecotypes of Moringa oleifera may be more drought tolerant than others. These may include those grown in the desert areas of Southwestern U.S., Sudan, Mali and others. Moringa stenopetala (African moringa) may be generally more tolerant than Moringa oleifera and is grown in the Coachella Valley of California where summer temperatures have recently reached 126°F. The most heat tolerant species may be Moringa peregrina (Arabian moringa), endemic to desert areas of the Middle East. African and Arabian moringa seeds are in sort supply and needed for agricultural development projects in drought stricken areas. Limited supplies of seeds of these species and Moringa oleifera from the above mentioned arid areas are available from our ONLINE STORE.
 Seeds of Arabian Moringa (Moringa peregrina) from Saudi Arabia |
Planting Rare Species. We offer a good selection of seeds of the rarer species such as Moringa arborea, M. concanensis, M. longituba and M. rivae from our online store. These may be quite expensive, reflecting our acquisition costs. Most of these have proven to be difficult to grow and we do not recommend purchasing them unless you have special expertise or need them for research purposes.
 Seeds of Moringa arborea |
We offer assistance in selecting seeds for research trials, new farms and other plantings and can prepare a suggested seed list for these projects. Please CONTACT US for assistance.
MORINGA SEED BANK CATALOG
This catalog provides a nearly complete listing of the seeds we have by species name, variety and lot number. Jot down a list of what you are interested in and then check for availability and get prices from the ONLINE STORE.
HOW TO PLACE A SEED ORDER
Our moringa seeds are sold though our ONLINE STORE. In the storefront page there are several categories of seeds. Select the category of interest. The seed lots, quantities and prices will be listed. Select the seed lot(s) and amounts that you wish to purchase in the Store. These will be placed into the shopping cart. When you are finished shopping complete the checkout process. All orders must be paid using PayPal. A PayPal account is not required and all major credit cards are accepted.
If you are purchasing a large array of different seeds or intending to place a special order for other amounts of seeds entering the order through our online store may be complicated and tedious. If this is your situation please CONTACT US. We can enter the order for you and bill using a PayPal Money Request.
SEED PROCESSING AND SHIPMENT
Moringa seeds are much easier to ship than live plants and can go to some locations where plant shipments may be prohibited. Most of our seeds are shipped by First Class domestic or international mail.
Measurement. Higher value seeds and seeds offered in small packets may be sold by count. All other moringa seed packages will be filled by metric weight (in grams) using our Hawai`i Department of Agriculture certified scale. One gram is typically the weight of 3-4 seeds of the most common species, Moringa oleifera.
Processing and Packaging. When an order for seeds is received they are taken from our storage freezers, thawed and packaged in small plastic bags containing a packet of silica gel to maintain dryness. If you are not planting them right away keep them in their original packaging with the silica gel. Keep them in a cool, dry place. For prolonged storage place them in a refrigerator.
Domestic Shipping. We can ship moringa seeds to all U.S. states and territories. All shipments of seeds to destinations outside Hawai`i Island must be inspected by the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture at their stations in Hilo or Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i before mailing. We travel to these distant stations for inspections about every two weeks. There is no charge to our customers for these inspections.
International Shipping. Please CONTACT US first before placing any international orders for moringa seeds. Our seeds can be exported internationally to most countries but such shipments are highly regulated and may require extensive paperwork. Most countries, including those in the European Union now require Phytosanitary Certificates for each shipment. These are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the seeds are inspected for shipment. The USDA charges fees of $61.00 for non-commercial shipments valued at less than $1,250.00, and $106.00 for commercial shipments valued at $1,250.00 or more. These fees must be paid when the order is placed with us. We will then apply for the required export documents.
Our Moringa Seeds and Products are Not Offered for Human or Animal Consumption
The moringa seeds offered from our bank, moringa cuttings and other moringa products are offered for planting and research purposes only. They are not offered, sold or approved for use as food by humans or animals. Refer to our GENERAL PURCHASING GUIDANCE section for additional guidance on obtaining moringa seeds for consumption from other suppliers.
MORE INFORMATION RESOURCES
(Click on the topic title below).
About Our Seed Bank
How and why we established the bank, sources of seeds and how we operate.
Information About the Varieties of Indian Moringa
The largest known compilation of information about the cultivars, varieties and ecotypes of Moringa oleifera, the most widely cultivated species.
Quality Guidelines on Purchasing Moringa Seeds
Regardless of where you purchase your seeds this section provides general information on seed selection and quality issues to be aware of.
Instructions for Seed Germination and Growing Moringa
Get your seeds off to a good start and grow moringa for home use or a crop.
This page was last updated on August 28, 2022.