Our very own tree of life stands tall and proud at the entrance to our garden.
This amazingly nutritious and visually delightful tree, Moringa oleifera, has been a stellar performer since being firmly planted at the back corner of our house in one of the sunniest spots in our garden. When my husband brought this little one-gallon-sized tree home--actually two trees in one pot--I had no real expectations. I remember seeing it mentioned in a few garden videos here and there. And the trees being shown on YouTube were huge! So, I did not immediately sing praises to my husband for bringing home this one, oops, these two little trees.
I also couldn't help but to think about the Moringa tree farm we frequently pass on our way to and from one of the local nurseries in our area. Several times, I have thought to myself, What tall and gangly branches! Driving by, I catch a glimpse of row upon row of outstretched, almost bare limbs jutting above overgrown bunches of grass intermingled with 100 or more hanging pots of thirsty-looking seedlings positioned just inside the chain link fence. I wondered, Is that what our tree is going to look like? Well, it was our garden wasn't it? So, it was technically our tree. I mean trees. I couldn't possibly toss these newcomers to the curb with no where to grow.
Here we are one year later, and I couldn't be more grateful for this tree. Although we gave one of the trees away, I have come to learn the incredible value of this tall and lean health machine. Native to parts of Africa and Asia, Moringa, also called “the miracle tree”, is a highly-coveted superfood because of its numerous health benefits. Just a quick google search and one can find a long list of reasons to include this plant as part of a healthful, plant-based diet. For starters, it contains 7 times more vitamin C than an orange. It can relieve inflammation, aid in absorption of calcium, lower blood sugar and help improve memory to name a few. It is commonly sold in powdered form as a supplement, in capsules or as dried leaves.
In our South Florida subtropical climate, we can grow the real deal and eat the leaves directly from the tree mixed in blended juices or steeped in hot water as a tea for instance. Its leaves have a bright, mustard-like flavor and may take some getting used to. My two darling daughters love to play foraging games in the backyard that involve picking Moringa leaves, among other edibles, and eating them fresh. I, however, prefer to add the leaves to my blended green smoothie or include it in my favorite tea blends like moringa ginger tea. We have also washed and stored the leaves in the freezer after a generous pruning of the tree.
The number one gardening goal we have for this tree is to keep it pruned….forever. A fully mature tree can grow up to 35 feet, and we simply don’t have that kind of space. I am confident in its ability to handle stress, however. So far, it has survived a tropical storm, hard pruning, beetle damage and vigorous munching by our iguana invaders. Once established, this low-maintenance tree grew quickly and needed no special fertilizing or watering over the past year.
If I could go back in time, I would have saved the second Moringa tree to plant in our front yard to take center stage for its irresistible health appeal and unmistakable curb appeal. Perhaps by some miracle, my husband will bring home another tree that needs just the right place to grow.
Photos
You are sure right about keeping it in check! We pruned it back in December. Now that we are well into winter windy cold season down here in South Florida, the tree has lost a lot of leaves and is slow growing. So, that is a bit of saving it grace. I am looking forward to seeing how well it rebounds in the spring with lots of new growth no doubt.
Every time I prune my moringa it creates new branches. It is tough to damage. Keep it under control though. It will grow huge!