Kratom: Botanical Insights and Cultivation Practices for a Conspicuous Medicinal Tree Species
Two short trees in a field, each with a skinny trunk, wide canopy, and thick foliage.
View on Ask IFAS
PDF 2025

Keywords

medicinal crops
Mitragyna speciosa
tropical and subtropical horticulture
Mitragyna speciosa - drug effects
new crops

Categories

How to Cite

Zhang, Mengzi, Annabella Lyndon, Brian Pearson, Christopher McCurdy, Abhisheak Sharma, and Jianjun Chen. 2025. “Kratom: Botanical Insights and Cultivation Practices for a Conspicuous Medicinal Tree Species: ENH1389 EP653, 7 2025”. EDIS 2025 (4). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep653-2025.

Abstract

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a member of the family Rubiaceae, a group of plants known for producing diverse bioactive metabolites. Arguably, the most popular member of the Rubiaceae family is coffee (Coffea arabica), which yields seeds (coffee beans) that contain bioactive metabolites, including the central nervous system stimulant caffeine. Unlike coffee, kratom is a facultatively deciduous tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Other species closely related to kratom include M. hirsuta, M. diversifolia, and M. parvifolia. This publication offers educational insights into the horticultural aspects of kratom based on empirical scientific research for anyone interested in cultivating it.

Accessibility Summary:

In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.

https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep653-2025
View on Ask IFAS
PDF 2025

References

Cinosi, E., G. Martinotti, P. Simonato, et al. 2015. “Following ‘the Roots’ of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): The Evolution of an Enhancer from a Traditional Use to Increase Work and Productivity in Southeast Asia to a Recreational Psychoactive Drug in Western Countries.” BioMed Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/968786

Eisenman, S. W. 2014. “Chapter 5. The Botany of Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil. and Related Species.” In Kratom and Other Mitragynines: The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Opioids from a Non-Opium, edited by R. B. Raffa. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4822-2519-8.

Garcia-Romeu, A., D. J. Cox, K. E. Smith, K. E. Dunn, and R. R. Griffiths. 2020. “Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): User Demographics, Use Patterns, and Implications for the Opioid Epidemic.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 208:107849 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107849

Grundmann, O., A. Garcia‐Romeu, C. R. McCurdy, et al. 2024. “Not all kratom is equal: The important distinction between native leaf and extract products.” Addiction 119 (10): 202–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16366

Heflin, J. O. 2023. “Kratom Regulation: Federal Status and State Approaches.” Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11082

Hemby, S. E., S. McIntosh, F. Leon, S. J. Cutler, and C. R. McCurdy. 2019. “Abuse Liability and Therapeutic Potential of the Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Alkaloids Mitragynine and 7‐hydroxymitragynine.” Addiction Biology 24 (5):874–885. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12639

Kamble, S. H., E. C. Berthold, S. R. R. Kanumuri, et al. 2022. “Metabolism of Speciociliatine, an Overlooked Kratom Alkaloid for Its Potential Pharmacological Effects.” The AAPS Journal 24: 86. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-022-00736-8

LaForest, L. C., M. A. Kuntz, S. R. R. Kanumuri, et al. 2023. “Metabolite and molecular characterization of Mitragyna speciosa identifies developmental and genotypic effects on monoterpene indole and oxindole alkaloid composition.” Journal of Natural Products 86 (4): 1042–1052. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00092

Martins, D., and C. V. Nunez. 2015. “Secondary Metabolites from Rubiaceae Species.” Molecules 20 (7): 13422–13495.https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules200713422

Murashige, T., and F. Skoog. 1962. “A Revised Medium for Rapid Growth and Bioassay with Tobacco Tissue Culture.” Physiologia Plantarum 15 (3): 473–495. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1962.tb08052.x

Mylavarapu, R., G. Hochmuth, C. Mackowiak, A. Wright, and M. Silveira. 2016. “Lowering Soil pH to Optimize Nutrient Management and Crop Production: SL437/SS651, 1/2016.” EDIS 2016 (2). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ss651-2016

Nilus, R., L. Y. Fah, and A. Hastie. 2011. “Species Selection Trial in Burnt Peat Swamp Vegetation in Southwest Coast of Sabah, Malaysia.” In Proceedings of The International Symposium on Rehabilitation of Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems. Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Ridsdale, C. E. 1978. “A Revision of Mitragyna and Uncaria (Rubiaceae).” Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants 24 (1): 43–100.

Schultes, R. E., and A. Hofmann. 1973. The Botany and Chemistry of Hallucinogens. American Lecture Series No. 843. Charles C. Thomas.

Sharma, A., S. H. Kamble, F. León, et al. 2019. “Simultaneous Quantification of Ten Key Kratom Alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa Leaf Extracts and Commercial Products by Ultra‐Performance Liquid Chromatography−Tandem Mass Spectrometry.” Drug Testing and Analysis 11 (8): 1162–1171. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2604

Singh, D., S. Narayanan, C. P. Müller, et al. 2019. “Motives for Using Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Among Regular Users in Malaysia.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 233: 34–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.038

Singh, D., S. Narayana, B. Vicknasingam, O. Corazza, R. Santacroce, and A. Roman-Urrestarazu. 2017. “Changing Trends in the Use of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) in Southeast Asia.” Human Psychopharmacology 32 (3): e2582. https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2582

Suwanlert, S. 1975. “A Study of Kratom Eaters in Thailand.” Bulletin on Narcotics 27 (3): 21–27.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 UF/IFAS