Kaloupilé (Murraya koenigii) - live plant
Kaloupilé (Murraya koenigii) - live plant
Live Murraya koenigii plant, the kaloupilé, better known in English as the curry leaf tree. Its foliage is one of the most characteristic aromatics of South Indian cuisine.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Expédié depuis le Jura - Paiement sécurisé - Retrait possible à Francheville
What you receive
What you receive
- A live, rooted plant
- Aromatic shrub to grow in a pot
- Packaging suited to live plants
Why you need to grow it yourself
Why you need to grow it yourself
This is the heart of the matter. The aroma of kaloupilé is carried by highly volatile compounds that almost entirely disappear on drying. Curry leaves sold dried in packets retain little of the original fragrance.
A fresh leaf picked from the plant and dropped into hot oil releases an aroma that no dried product can reproduce. That is the only real reason to have this plant at home, and it is more than enough.
Botanical description
Botanical description
Murraya koenigii belongs to the Rutaceae, the citrus family, which explains the lemony, resinous side of its fragrance. It is a shrub with compound leaves, made up of a dozen or so glossy leaflets arranged on either side of a central axis.
It produces small, fragrant white flowers followed by small black berries. Note: kaloupilé has nothing to do with curry powder, which is a blend of spices. The English name fuels the confusion.
Growing
Growing
A tropical plant, to be grown in a pot in our climate. It needs warmth and plenty of light, a free-draining substrate and regular watering during growth, reduced in winter.
It cannot tolerate frost: bring it in before the first cold spells, into the brightest room possible. Partial leaf loss in winter is common and nothing to worry about, the leaves grow back in spring.
Prune regularly: this encourages a bushy habit and increases the number of young shoots, which are the most fragrant.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this the plant that curry powder comes from?
No. Curry powder is a blend of ground spices. Kaloupilé is an aromatic in its own right, used as fresh leaves.
Can the leaves be dried?
They can, but most of the fragrance is lost. For storage, freezing fresh leaves gives a much better result than drying.
Is it cold-hardy?
No. Bring it in as soon as night temperatures drop below 10 °C.
Why does it lose its leaves in winter?
Through lack of light and warmth. It is a normal response to overwintering, and it starts growing again in spring.
Also worth exploring: our aromatic and edible plants and our rare plants.
