Where Can I Get a Moringa Tree?

Q. Can you tell me where I can purchase a Moringa tree to grow in Vegas?

This is one of our Moringa (Mallinggay) trees at our farm in the Philippines. It is harvested for its leaves for use in cooking some local dishes. It is now cut back and suckering profusely.

A. Moringa is a tropical tree that freezes to the ground during the winters we get below freezing temperatures. Most of the attention given to growing Moringa is on leaf production. Winter freezing for this tree in our climate is not critical because it can sucker from its base each spring.

Moringa or Malunggay leaves used for cooking.

Note: there is a growing interest in many places in "food forests" and the health benefits of Moringa. At our Moca Farm in the Philippines we have about 20 Moringa trees, called locally Mallunggay. We use the leaves as a condiment and cooking ingredient for many local dishes.

Moringa cut back for harvesting leaves. This tree suckers nicely from cut stumps making harvesting easier.

           I don’t know any place locally where you can buy one. There are several people in Las Vegas with success growing Moringa in their yards. The tree is easy to propagate from stem cuttings if you know someone who will permit you to take cuttings. We use 2 and 3-inch diameter stem cuttings from our existing Moringa trees (Malunggay in Tagalog) on our farm in the Philippines. The seed is also sold online from nurseries located in subtropical and tropical climates.

           In Las Vegas, I would use thumb diameter cuttings taken in spring and grow them in a protected location in containers until leaves are seen. The following year replant them into their final location. Otherwise, start the tree from seed which can be purchased online.

Note: After this was published in the local newspaper, one reader sent me a note and said she would get seed from her Moringa tree and provide it to whoever wants it. If you are interested. Let me know and I will get you in touch with her.