Morinda citrifolia, commonly called Indian mulberry, is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree that typically grows to 10-18' tall. In Hawaii it is commonly called noni. It is native from southeastern Asia and Polynesia to northern Australia. Lumpy, potato shaped fruits from this small tree are now being commercially processed into a juice called noni which is being sold worldwide for its touted health benefits. Although these fruits are considered by some to be cure-alls for a huge number of medical problems, many of the current claims made by health enthusiasts have not so far been medically confirmed by objective testing. This small evergreen tree features straight trunk, large, simple, deeply-veined, waxy, dark green leaves (6-20" long), small white flowers in clusters from the leaf axils many-seeded oval fruits (mature from green to yellow to off-white) which fuse into a fruiting structure resembling a small potato or breadfruit. Flowers and fruits appear year round. Fruits are edible, but have a strong flavor and very unpleasant smell when ripe (aroma reportedly attracts bats which help distribute the seeds). For well over 2000 years, South Pacific islanders have consumed noni fruits. Polynesian explorers considered noni to be a "canoe plant" that was taken on all voyages because it was considered essential to their lives. It was not until the 1990s that commercial production of bottled noni juice took off. Most commercial noni fruits now come from Tahiti or Hawaii. Tree bark contains red pigment and tree roots contain yellow pigment used as dyes.
Genus name comes from the Latin words morus meaning a mulberry and indicus meaning from India.
Specific epithet means with leaves that look like the genus Citrus.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Potential insect problems include aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and aphids. Root-knot nematodes. Roundworms. Potential disease problems include leaf spots and blights.
Uses
Where winter hardy, it is grown as a specimen/accent (huge leaves plus misshapen fruits), hedge, or living fence. Good selection for difficult areas with poor soils. Fruit production.
