Pisonia Alba - 10" Grow bag

Pisonia alba, popularly called the Lettuce Tree, is a soft-wooded small tree or large shrub from the Nyctaginaceae family. It is grown across warmer parts of India for its strikingly pale, lime-green to creamy-white leaves that brighten shaded corners and act as a colour contrast among darker foliage plants.

The tender, almost translucent leaves are edible and have a long history of use in South Indian Siddha medicine, while the plant itself is valued as a low-maintenance ornamental hedge or specimen. It tolerates pruning extremely well and is easily multiplied from cuttings, making it a favourite for quick green cover.

It thrives in the tropical heat and humidity of coastal and plains India, needing little more than sun, regular moisture and well-drained soil to push out flush after flush of soft new growth.

Specifications

Care guide

Uses

<p>Pisonia alba is grown for both ornamental and practical purposes in India:</p><ul><li>As a bright foliage shrub, hedge or screen to light up shaded garden spaces.</li><li>As a soft-wooded specimen plant in tropical and coastal gardens.</li><li>The tender leaves are edible and used as a leafy vegetable in some South Indian kitchens.</li><li>Long used in Siddha and folk medicine, traditionally applied for wounds, swelling and joint complaints.</li></ul>

Growing tips

<p>Plant or transplant at the onset of the monsoon (June-July) so cuttings and saplings establish in warm, moist conditions.</p><p>During the dry, hot months (March-May) water frequently and mulch the base to retain moisture and keep the leaves looking fresh.</p><p>Pinch and prune through the growing season to encourage dense, bushy growth and a steady flush of pale new leaves. In cooler North Indian winters, protect young plants from frost.</p>