Plants
Curry Plant
Helichrysum italicum · Asteraceae
The curry plant is a charming trickster: it smells intensely of curry, yet botanically has nothing to do with the spice blend. Its silver-grey, needle-fine shoots make it one of the loveliest texture and fragrance plants for pots, balconies and herb beds. We buy our herb pots in sturdy nursery quality at the Veiling Rhein-Maas — well rooted and hardened off, not forced.
- Light
- Full sun — at least six hours a day, more if possible.
- Watering
- Little — let the soil dry out well between waterings, avoid waterlogging.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Helichrysum italicum
Helichrysum italicum belongs to the same genus as the strawflower but is its own culinary and fragrance species. The curry scent comes from the essential oils in the foliage and is strongest in warmth and when touched. In summer small golden-yellow flower heads appear that keep well when dried.
In the kitchen, curry plant is used more sparingly than the name suggests: a sprig is briefly cooked along and removed before serving, much like rosemary or bay. Finely chopped in larger amounts it quickly turns bitter — the most common beginner mistake.
As a design plant the silver foliage is worth its weight in gold. We like to combine curry plant with lavender, rosemary and thyme in Mediterranean fragrance boxes, or use it as a calm silver tone between flowering balcony plants. Cut shoots also serve as aromatic accents in summer arrangements.
The right spot decides everything: curry plant wants full sun and lean, very free-draining soil. In ordinary rich potting compost without added sand it grows soft, loses its silver colour and rots easily — better to mix herb compost with sand or grit.
In mild wine-growing climates curry plant is borderline hardy with winter protection; in harsher regions the pot is best overwintered bright and cool at five to ten degrees. Cutting back by about a third in spring keeps the plant compact; avoid cutting into old, woody growth.
Is Curry Plant toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Curry plant is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children and is even used as a seasoning. Larger amounts of its essential oils can still upset sensitive stomachs — so nibbling in moderation.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01A fully sunny, warm spot — the more sun, the more silvery the foliage and the stronger the scent.
- 02Water sparingly and strictly avoid waterlogging; let the soil dry out well between waterings.
- 03Use lean, free-draining soil, ideally mixed with a third of sand or grit.
- 04Feed hardly at all — one small dose in spring is enough, otherwise growth turns soft.
- 05Cut back by a third in spring, but never into old wood.
- 06In harsh regions overwinter bright and cool at five to ten degrees.
Frequently asked
- Can you actually cook with curry plant?
- Yes, but differently from curry powder. You briefly cook a whole sprig along — in rice dishes, soups or with poultry — and remove it before serving. Finely chopped and in quantity the herb turns bitter, so dose it like rosemary or bay leaf.
- Is curry plant hardy?
- Only to a degree. In mild regions like the Rhineland it often survives winter with brushwood protection and a dry position, but not reliably. It is safer to overwinter it in its pot in a bright, cool spot at five to ten degrees.
- Is curry plant toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, curry plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs and is used by people as a culinary herb. As with all aromatic herbs, very large amounts can upset the stomach, but in everyday handling the plant is harmless.
- Why is my curry plant losing its silver colour?
- Usually the cause is too much water, overly rich soil or too little sun. In rich, moist soil the herb grows soft and greenish. A fully sunny spot, lean sandy soil and sparing watering bring the silver colour back.