South African Curry Leaf
South African Curry Leaf (Murrya Koenigii)
South African Curry leaf is one of the most potent curry leaves you will ever find. They are hard to come by and usually the stems are a bit reddish. For cooking, the South African variety has much stronger curry smell and more intense in flavour and is quite similar to the Malaysian and Indonesian variety.
Curry leaf plants are a component of the Indian seasoning called curry and they are very popular amongst the South East Asian dishes as well. Curry leaf herb is a culinary plant whose leaves are used as an aromatic and the fruit of the plant is a component of desserts in some Eastern nations. The plant is tropical to sub-tropical and produces small fragrant white flowers that become small, black, berry-like fruits. The fruit is edible, but the seed is poisonous and must be removed prior to use. The foliage is the real standout and are arranged alternately on the stem, pinnate and comprised of many leaflets. The aromatic scent is spicy and heady and best when the leaves are fresh.
Plants are about 1.5 years old.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-draining, rich soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Watering: Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, reduce watering during the cooler months.
- Temperature: Ideal temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C. Protect from frost.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Fertilising: Fertilize with a balanced NPK ratio such as 10-10-10 every three months during the growing season.
- Pruning: Prune to encourage bushiness and remove any dead or diseased branches. Harvest leaves as needed, which also encourages new growth.
- Mulching: Apply organic mulch around the base to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pest Control: Monitor for pests like aphids and scale. Use appropriate organic treatments as necessary.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces small white flowers and black, inedible berries. The leaves are the primary culinary product.
- Potting: Suitable for container growing. Choose a pot with good drainage and repot every couple of years.
- Feeding Regime: Regular applications of a balanced fertilizer enhance leaf production and overall plant health.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $35
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
