Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum

Its scientific name originates from the native tongue of Malabar, India where this plant is called elettari and Greek word kardamomom which is a description of an Indian spice.

Cardamom is an aromatic evergreen member of the Ginger family and is one of the most ancient spices in the world, being traded for over 1,000 years. The seeds and pods are used to flavor dishes and drinks. Known as the “Queen of Spices”, cardamom is grown for its fruit in tropical climates, and as an ornamental plant in other areas for its fragrant leaves.  When grown in locations other than tropical, the plant will not flower.

The fruit and seed are internationally traded and is the third most expensive spice by weight. Cardamom is native to southern India and until 1980 India was the largest producer in the world. After being introduced to other tropical areas, Guatemala is currently the largest producer of the spice. There are two varieties, major is the wild indigenous variety known as the oblong or long cardamom, and minor that compromises the cultivated groups.  The seeds are often used in Indian and Asian dishes.  In Scandinavia countries it is used as a flavoring when baking, while in Middle Eastern countries it is added to tea and coffee as a flavoring.

Cardamom thrives in non-fluctuating tropical rain forest conditions, with temperatures between 65-95 degrees and humidity levels of 75%. Temperatures below 50 degrees F will suffer damage.  The soil required is loamy, well-drained, and consistently moist, with PH levels between 5.5 and 6.8. Direct sunlight and sudden changes in environmental conditions must be avoided. Outside a natural tropical environment, cardamom can be grown in heated greenhouses or warm bathrooms. To grow indoors, choose a pot at least 10” deep with multiple drainage holes and fill it with well-draining, moisture-retaining soil that is sandy-loamy and amended with organic matter and well-rotted manure. Place the pot on a large saucer of pebbles and spray pebbles with water to provide humidity as well as misting the leaves several times per week. Keep the plant soil constantly moist, but never let the pot sit in the saucer water. Feed with a high nitrogen and low potassium fertilizer for houseplants twice a month. Keep in mind that plants grown indoors can reach 10’ in height in 5-10 years.  Growing indoors or in a greenhouse will not produce flowers, however, it is often grown just for the showy foliage.

Propagate cardamom by dividing the fleshy, knobby rhizomes.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

There are no known difficult disease or insect problems.

Avoid direct sunlight.  

Picking the fruits is labor-intensive, as they must be picked by hand.