How Much Sun Is Needed for a Curry Tree?

About Curry Leaf

• The curry leaf is a shrub or small tree with spreading branches that grows to between 6 and 15 feet tall. Its dark green or brown stems are covered with dots, and its leaves are a shiny dark green and 1 to 2 inches long. Showy white flowers appear seasonally, followed by one or two dark, bluish-black fruits per flower. While the fruits are edible, their sometimes-overpowering scent may not be to everyone’s taste.

Light Requirements

• The curry leaf will grow in full sun or partial shade. When choosing a site, try to find a spot with protection from strong winds. Curry leaf can grow outdoors year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 or indoors in containers in cooler climates. If you choose to grow it indoors, or bring indoors for winter, place it where it will receive lots of sunlight. The best locations are windowsills facing east, south or west.

Culture

• Curry leaf prefers rich, moist, well-draining sites. It does best in a loamy soil. Although curry leaf prefers a medium amount of water, you should allow the soil to dry out completely before soaking it again. If you are trying to keep the tree contained, prune root suckers as soon as they appear. If you do not eat the fruit, remove it from the tree to reduce the mess.

Garden Uses

• Curry leaf’s shade tolerance makes it suited for growing under other trees. Its white flowers and dark berries make it a good specimen plant. Because the evergreen leaves and dark fruits provide winter interest, plant it near deciduous plants or those that die back in winter.

  You can snip the leaves of the curry tree for use as a flavoring in salads, meats, vegetable dishes and omelets. Do not confuse curry leaf with curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), which grows in USDA zones 8b through 11. While curry plant does have a currylike scent, it should not be used as a substitute in cooking.