# Anyone grow Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 28, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609 "2020-05-28T15:46:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/1 "2020-05-28T15:46:15Z")
I was going to make sago gula melaka (a tapioca pudding). I got the small tapioca balls, the palm sugar, and the coconut milk. I could not find pandan leaves locally, though. I did find a seller on Etsy selling pandan plants, and mine is on the way. Anyone grow pandan plants? Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/2 "2020-05-28T16:02:55Z")
It’s pretty tropical. Might do better as a houseplant? It’s a pretty thing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/3 "2020-05-28T16:07:00Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > It’s pretty tropical. Might do better as a houseplant? It’s a pretty thing. We have a sun-room and that’s where it will be initially, anyway. One of my ugliest culinary plants is lemongrass (\* Cymbopogon citratus\*) and it is doing ok. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/4 "2020-05-28T22:50:53Z")
> **[Amazon.com: Thai Greenhouse Pandanus Amaryllifolius (Bai Toey) Plant : Grocery...](https://www.amazon.com/Thai-Greenhouse-Pandanus-Amaryllifolius-Plant/dp/B00LR33EXE)** > > Buy Thai Greenhouse Pandanus Amaryllifolius (Bai Toey) Plant: Grocery & Gourmet Food - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/5 "2020-05-29T05:59:00Z")
I’ve never grown pandanus myself but am very familiar with it as a culinary plant. It’s wonderful stuff, with a delicious vanilla-like smell. In Indonesia, McCormick used to sell pandan extract, which was amazingly good. I just Googled it quickly and it seems like there are a lot of options, [from Walmart even](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pandan-Flavoring-Paste-by-Butterfly-2-Oz/580966970?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=9386&adid=22222222227140129477&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=250543641760&wl4=pla-413648008261&wl5=9032751&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=115794710&wl11=online&wl12=580966970&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw4-H2rHY6QIVksDACh221wHbEAYYBCABEgKg7PD_BwE) so if your plant doesn’t work out, you might consider just using a flavoring. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/6 "2020-05-29T10:58:45Z")
It freezes beautifully too! (It only came in a large bundle, at the Asian grocery, when I sought it out to make some chicken rice!) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/7 "2020-05-29T11:49:27Z")
Tracking shows it on its way. I hope my gf likes her gift.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-grow-pandan-pandanus-amaryllifolius/854609/8 "2020-05-29T12:26:54Z")
I’d never even heard of it until a couple years ago when getting some ice cream in an Asian food court sorta place. If the ice cream was indicative of the actual flavor, it’s good! Can’t help you with growing it though.