Moringa oleifera (moringa, "Wasabinoki")

Japanese name: ワサビノキ （山葵木）
Scientific name: Moringa oleifera

[Overview]
A semi-evergreen small tree about 12 m tall.
The bark is whitish gray and corky.
The leaves are alternate or nearly opposite, 25–60 cm long, 3-times pinnately compound with petioles, and have 4–6 pairs of leaflets.
The leaflets are ovate to oblong, 1–2 cm long and 0.5–1.2 cm wide.
It flowers all year round if temperature and rainfall conditions are suitable.
Panicles 10–30 cm long emerge from the leaf axils and bear fragrant, 5-petaled, white to cream flowers 2–3 cm across.
The fruit is a dull triangular-prism-shaped capsule, 20–50 cm long and 1–3 cm across, and hangs down.
The seeds are spherical with 3 ridges, about 1–1.5 cm across and blackish brown, usually with 3 thin wings on the ridges.

[Uses]
It has a pungency like wasabi, especially strong in the root, which is used as a spice.
The leaves, young fruits, roots and flowers are eaten.
It is also used medicinally.
Ben oil is obtained from the seeds and is used for watch oil, painting materials, perfume raw materials and the like.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers sun, heat, and well-drained sandy or loamy soil that is neutral to slightly acidic, pH 6.3–7.0.
Poor drainage makes it prone to root rot.
Keep it at 5°C or higher over winter.
Take care not to overwater; from spring to autumn water thoroughly after the soil has dried, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
Apply slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn.
Pests and diseases include aphids and longhorn beetles.

[Notes]
It got its name from its wasabi-like pungency.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)