This small glabrous tree has a short trunk with greyish brown bark and spreading 4-angled branches that form a rounded crown. It has glossy dark green oblong leaves and the small white trumpet-shaped flowers appear in globular heads during spring.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Morinda citrifoliais naturally found from northern Australia to Indonesia, Malaysia, Polynesia and India growing in coastal thickets or on stabilised dunes and adjoining cliffs, in monsoonal tropical climates. It is also found along lowland water courses or beach rainforest and its growth habit is a variable from a spreading shrub to a small tree as dictated by the environment.

It prefers a well-drained, organic rich moist soil in a sunny to semi shaded open position and is drought, salt spray tolerant but frost tender.

Noni is grown for its habit, foliage and fruit. It is planted in coastal gardens along borders or used for soil stabilisation. It is also grown commercially for its fruit and establishes in 3-4 years and is moderately long lived. It is planted as a wind break or for shelter, but in small gardens the smelly fruit.

The fruit is editable and is grown commercially as a cash crop but the smell of ripe fruit is considered to be similar to vomit. Mythological beliefs say that the odour from the ripe fruit will keep ghosts away as a repellent.ID 3286

Morinda(moh-RIN-dah) citrifolia(SIT-ree-FOH-lee-ah)

Rubiaceae (ROO-bee-AY-see-ee)
Coffee and Madder Family