Phyllanthaceae - Botanical Family

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Small tropical tree, to 20 feet, leaves are compound with numerous pinnate leaflets. Fruits are borne in loose clusters, which hang from the tree trunk and main branches. Individual fruits are up to 0.75 inch in diameter, near globose and angled. Fruits are generally too tart for fresh eating but are esteemed for jellies, preserves and pastries. They ripen in midsummer. There are no commercial plantings; but trees are in home gardens, and fruit is harvested from naturalized trees.

Phyllanthus acidus is called Ari Nelli in Tamil, and the Phyllanthus emblica (Amlaki) is Muzhu Nelli in Tamil. Muzhu Nelli is even richer in Vitamin C etc.

This plant is native of India, thrives best in full sun and semi-shade with moderate water. It blooms all year round and bears bunch of beautiful flowers in various colors, like pink, white, off-white and yellow or orange. As expected of Indian natives, it is quite hardy and can be grown in USDA zone 9-11.

The ideal soil for Phyllanthus angustifolius is well-drained soil; preferably sandy loam or clay loam, with a pH range of 5.5-7.5. If planted in hot and dry areas, the plant will require regular watering, otherwise it is drought resistant and requires very minimum water once established. It should be fertilized with an all purpose fertilizer, once every two months during the growing season.

In cold regions, this plant should be grown in pots. It should be kept indoors during the winter months, and placed in bright, direct light indoors. It should be watered very moderately, and should be kept moist, but not wet. This plant prefers cool and humid environments, so the pot should be misted regularly. The pot should be kept outside in the summer, in a spot where it can receive full sun or semi-shade, as needed.

Overall, with minimum care and maintenance, this Phyllanthus angustifolius can make a great addition to any garden or home. It bears beautiful, colorful flowers all year round, and with pruning, it can be kept small and be grown indoors.

Phyllanthus mirabilis or Dragon Wings has a unique foliage with rough edges and a little bit irritating. If planted in the ground, the trunk can grow up to 2-3 ft in diameter, and reach a height of 20-25 ft. If grown in pot, the plant will only get about 2-5 ft in height. It can be used as a lovely ornamental and a bonsai plant. The leaves will fold together at night like a butterfly wings. If you live in a cold region, you need to bring the pot indoors during winter. Despite it's native region, mature plants have been reported to survive temperatures as low as 30s F, although it's only for a short time. Phyllanthus mirabilis grows best in USDA Zone 9-11.

For pot growing, it needs well-drained soil, slightly acidic soil and regular water. Reduce watering in winter, but keep it moist. Plant in full sun, semi-shade or shade, with some morning or afternoon sun. Do not let the soil dry out. As a bonsai, you can use a fertilizer every two weeks. Pruning is also important for keeping it in shape. Prune back branches to your desired shape, and trim roots at least once a year to prevent it from becoming root-bound. If you live in a cold region, protect your plant from frost in winter. Move the pot to an area with temperature higher than 40sF. It will keep its leaves during the winter, but loose them in spring during dormancy period, leaving a thick showy caudex. Re-leafs around June.