Everything You Need to Know About Narra — Care, Propagation & More
Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Narra — from seed to table.
What Can You Eat?
Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.
Young leaves and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked as salad greens. Flowers are also edible. The bark and leaves are traditionally used in herbal medicine for diarrhoea, dropsy, and bladder ailments.
Narra is the Philippine national tree, prized for its golden-brown heartwood and fragrant yellow flowers. It is a nitrogen-fixing legume that enriches the soil around it. Protected under Philippine law (RA 3571), cutting mature narra requires a DENR permit. Widely planted in reforestation projects, school grounds, and barangay parks across the country. The wood is used in heirloom furniture and the bark in traditional Filipino herbal remedies.
Germination Guide
From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.
Planting Instructions
Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.
Propagation Methods
Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.
Care Guide
Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.
Full sun
Regular watering for first 2 years; drought-tolerant once established
Complete fertilizer at planting; compost annually for young trees
24-34°C
60-90%
Mulch around base to retain moisture. Narra fixes nitrogen through root nodules, improving surrounding soil.
Harvest Guide
Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.
Young leaves are tender and light green. Flowers appear in clusters of bright yellow fragrant blooms.
Pick young leaves and shoots by hand. Collect flowers when freshly opened.
Common Problems & Solutions
Spot issues early and fix them fast.
Slow initial growth
Cause: Narra is a hardwood with moderate growth rate
Solution: Be patient. Provide full sun and regular watering in the first 2 years.
Leaf miners and defoliators
Cause: Insect larvae feeding on leaves
Solution: Prune affected branches. Apply neem oil spray for severe infestations.
Root rot in waterlogged soil
Cause: Poor drainage
Solution: Plant in well-drained soil. Avoid low-lying areas that flood.
Illegal cutting risk
Cause: Narra is a premium timber species and protected by law (RA 3571)
Solution: Register large trees with DENR. Narra cutting requires a special permit.
Perfect Plant Partners
Plants that grow well together.