Kratom or Mitragyna Speciosa is a natural herb dating back many centuries. It can be found in a dried leaf or Kratom extract. It comes from a tree that is found in the Southeast Asian area, specifically Thailand. Mostly, this tree is grown in the central and southern regions of Thailand, and rarely in the north.
The tree is part of the Rubaiceae family and is found in sub-tropical and tropical regions of Asia and Africa. These trees are often found in rainforest, but the African species is often found in swamps. It can reach heights of 100 feet and contains flowering heads bearing up to 120 florets each.
The stem is erect and branching. The flowers are yellow and the leaves are evergreen. Mitragyna speciosa sheds its leaves constantly and replaces them, but some guasi-seasonal leaf shedding does occur due to environmental conditions. When it’s dry, the leaves will fall more abundantly and they will grow more during the rainy season.
The Kratom seeds can be used to grow the trees, as long as they are fresh. Germination rates are 20% – 30% and the seedlings can grow to over 14 feet tall. Kratom prefers humus-rich soils that remain wet. It’s a heavy feeder and requires very rich soil to grow properly. The tree is drought sensitive and can be sensitive to frost, if grown out of its natural habitat.
