MO NAMED DWARF AND SEMI-DWARF CULTIVARS

Several compact varieties of Moringa oleifera have been developed in India.  These are suited for gardeners with limited outdoor space or for growing permanently in containers.  They can be grown indoors in cold climates or moved indoors during the winter.

The true dwarf varieties have the same general form as their standard sized counterparts but generally grow to a maximum height of only about 1.0 – 2.5 meters (3 – 8 feet).  The standard forms can grow to 10 – 12 meters (30 – 40 feet) if untrimmed.  Semi-dwarf varieties with intermediates heights are also available.  As with the standard sized trees, dwarf and semi-dwarf trees should be trimmed regularly to encourage side branching and maximize leaf production.  Start trimming when the tree is about 1 meter (3 feet tall).  Untrimmed trees will grow quickly to their maximum height with most of the leaves and pods at the top.

Information on the origins of some varieties is scant but dwarfs known to be derived from the annual, determinant height PKM1 and PKM2 varieties are the most widely available.  We offer small quantities of seeds of dwarf varieties from India and occasionally very limited quantities of seeds from Hawai`i.  The Hawaiian seeds are the products of open pollination and may be hybrids of trees of standard size.

Please refer to our International Moringa Seed Bank Catalog for additional information about the characteristics of these seeds.