Murraya - The Bride in White

Murraya - The Bride in White

Murraya (lat. Murraya exotica) - belongs to a genus of flowering plants from the Rutaceae family (lat. Rutaceae). This genus is in the subfamily Aurantioideae, which is represented by, for example, the Citrus genus.

Murraya is a medium-sized shrub that grows to a height of around 1m in the wild. It is most commonly found in Asia, Australia, Sri Lanka and the Pacific Islands (Oceania). It is cultivated in southern China and Southeast Asia. In Japan, it is shaped into bonsai and used in Japanese gardens. It is very popular among growers for its decorative appearance. The low, richly bushy shrub is covered with white flowers that smell of citrus and contrast with the dark green glossy leaves. The leaves are quite long, up to 15 cm. The shrub blooms several times a year. After flowering, red berries appear, which are also decorative.

In a pot, Murraya grows to a height of 50 cm. It is suitable for growing indoors, which it will fill with its fresh citrus fragrance. Murraya is sometimes called orange jasmine.

Murraya thrives in partial shade. Do not place it in direct sunlight. The optimal room temperature for growing Murraya is 15-25°C.

Fertilize Murraya once a month with fertilizer designed for indoor plants.

Growing Murraya

Murraya is a plant that can be easily grown by any good grower. The easiest way to grow Murraya is - from seeds. If you own a propagator, you have a great advantage. If you don't own a propagator, it is advisable to purchase a mini greenhouse with ventilation, which will keep the substrate and air optimally warm and moist. In a propagator and in a mini greenhouse, Murraya seeds germinate at normal room temperature, which should be around 15-25°C.

Germination substrate can be prepared by yourself (mix peat, sand and bark humus), or use just peat, or ideally substrate designed for growing citrus.

Transplant the grown plant into a deeper pot with drainage. We use substrate for growing citrus again. Place the transplanted Murraya on a windowsill, not in direct sunlight, ideally on the east or southeast side of the apartment. Even seedlings that are only a few months old bloom soon.

Water the plant regularly. The soil should always dry out slightly. In the summer months, you can move Murraya to the terrace. Daily misting is suitable. Fertilize Murraya once a month. The fertilizer should not contain lime. TIP: A second-brewed black tea bag left over from breakfast can serve as both fertilizer and irrigation water. If you don't drink black tea, treat the plant to settled or better still rainwater.

Murraya is a very hardy plant that doesn't suffer from any pests. It also resists low temperatures. During winter, temperatures should not drop below 8°C. At low temperatures, Murraya neither grows nor blooms. If you allow your Murraya to overwinter at lower temperatures, be careful with watering. Overwatering during the winter period will cause Murraya to drop both flowers and leaves.

The more intense sunlight you expose your Murraya to, the smaller its leaves will be and the flowers will take on a yellow tinge. The overall appearance of the plant will be more compact and perhaps more interesting to some.

Repotting Murraya is not a necessity. It's sufficient to repot it whenever it outgrows its original pot, when it becomes "too small" for it.

Uses of Murraya

Murraya has many uses in nature (in its homeland). Due to its structure, it's suitable for stabilizing slopes during landscape modifications, along paths. Some Murraya species can be grafted onto citrus tree rootstocks.

Murraya is used in traditional medicine, where various parts of the plant are processed and used, for example, to treat fever, pain, and dysentery. It was also used to induce labor. In Cuba, it's used to relieve painful inflammatory conditions. The leaves, bark, and roots are used in alternative medicine.

Murraya fruits reportedly taste like olives, but beware of the seeds - they are poisonous!

The plant's leaves are used as a spice instead of bay leaves. They are aromatic. They can also be used in baths and aromatherapy. Dried fruits are part of Indian curry. The fragrant bark of Murraya is used in perfume production.

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Author: Hana Michalíková