Asian cuisine thrives on fresh ingredients, from aromatic herbs and tender greens to spicy roots and flavorful seeds. While many of these can be found at Asian markets, nothing compares to the joy of harvesting them from your own garden.

Asia is incredibly diverse, stretching from India to Japan, but this post focuses on the cuisines of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Most of these countries have coastlines and warm tropical climates that shape the herb forward flavors common in their cooking. 

Sure, onions, garlic, shallots, and spinach show up in lots of gardens and kitchens. But the real magic of a Southeast Asian garden? It’s all about those unique herbs and spices that take your cooking to the next level. In this blog, I’ll help you grow these special crops so you can easily bring the flavors of Southeast Asia into your own kitchen!

1. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Lemongrass grows as a perennial in tropical climates or in containers that can be brought indoors before frost, but in cooler regions, it’s usually grown as an annual. It spreads through thick stalks called culms, and dividing mature clumps each year helps keep the plant healthy and prevents overcrowding. In Southeast Asian cooking, lemongrass is a key aromatic ingredient, starring in dishes like Thai tom yum soup, Vietnamese grilled pork, and curry pastes often made creamy with coconut milk.

2. Vietnamese Coriander (Persicaria odorata)

Vietnamese coriander is a fast-growing, tender perennial that thrives in consistently moist soil with partial shade, making it well-suited to raised beds and indoor planters in warm climates. Unlike common coriander, it prefers slightly acidic conditions and benefits from regular harvesting to stay compact. This pungent herb plays a central role in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in fresh spring rolls, noodle dishes like bun cha, and salads.     

3. Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora)

Thai basil is a tender perennial, usually grown as an annual in cooler climates. It thrives with regular pruning, which encourages dense, bushy growth. When grown indoors during colder months, it does best in raised garden beds, rolling planters, or under grow lights. Thai basil is a staple in Thai and Vietnamese dishes like pho, pad kra pao, and soy sauce–based stir-fries made with fish sauce and garlic.

4. Galangal (Alpinia galanga)

Galangal is a tropical, rhizomatous plant in the ginger family, suited to raised garden beds in warm climates or under grow lights indoors, where winters are cold. Though slow to mature, dividing the rhizomes every few years encourages vigorous regrowth and healthier plants. Its citrusy flavor is vital in Thai cuisine, especially in soups like tom kha gai and curry pastes, where it’s often paired with lemongrass and shrimp paste to deepen the aromatic base.

5. Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)

Bok choy is a cool-season vegetable that matures quickly and grows well in raised garden beds, rolling planters, or indoor planters under grow lights in early spring. It produces crisp, dark green leaves with pale, juicy stalks and benefits from harvesting outer leaves regularly to extend the yield into late summer. In Chinese cuisine, bok choy is a common ingredient in stir fry, sautéed with garlic and sesame oil or simmered in broths.

6. Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix)

Kaffir lime is a tropical shrub or small tree with glossy green leaves that thrive in rolling planters or large containers, especially in tropical climates or in greenhouses where protection from the danger of frost is needed. The plant’s double-lobed leaves are intensely fragrant and can be harvested throughout the season, especially as new plant growth appears. In Thai cuisine, the kaffir lime leaf is an essential ingredient to soups like tom yum, curry pastes, and seafood dishes.

7. Chinese Chives (Allium tuberosum)

Chinese chives are hardy perennials that grow well in raised garden beds, planters, or sunny locations with good drainage. They form long, flat, dark green leaves with a mild garlic scent, and their small white flowers are also edible and attract pollinators. These chives are a common ingredient in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine, frequently added to dumpling fillings, savory pancakes, stir-fries, and egg dishes. 

8. Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

Bitter melon is a fast-growing tropical vine best trained on trellises in raised garden beds or large rolling planters. It prefers warm, humid conditions and needs space to sprawl but responds well to pruning for higher yields. It is widely used in Southeast Asian cooking, including Filipino pinakbet and Vietnamese stuffed bitter melon soup.

9. Thai Bird’s Eye Chili (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum)

This chili pepper is a compact perennial in tropical climates but often grown as an annual in other regions in indoors planters or raised garden beds. It produces small, extremely hot fruits continuously through a long growing season, Thai bird’s eye chili is a staple spice in dishes like som tam and fish based stir fries.

10. Culantro (Eryngium foetidum)

Culantro grows well in moist soil with partial shade and adapts easily to raised garden beds, rolling planters, or indoor planters under grow lights for continuous harvesting. Unlike its cousin cilantro, it tolerates heat and thrives in tropical climates. In Vietnamese cooking, it is often added to pho, grilled meats, and herb platters, alongside chili peppers and fish sauce. It also features in Thai and Lao dishes, especially in fresh salads and aromatic spice pastes.

11. Thai Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. aculeatissimum)

Thai eggplant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, performing best in raised garden beds or large planters in warm climates. This tropical plant produces small, round green pods harvested in late summer when the fruits are firm and glossy. In Thai cuisine, they are essential in green curry and spicy meat dishes, where their slightly bitter taste helps balance the richness of coconut milk and the heat of chili peppers. 

Final Thoughts

These unique ingredients are at the heart of authentic Southeast Asian cooking, so take the time to grow and care for these plants. They’ll give you the perfect ingredients on hand to explore true flavors straight from your garden!