Cardamom variety · Botanical type
Vazhukka Type
Also known as Semi-erect panicle type; Intermediate type
Natural hybrid zone, Western Ghats (Kerala–Karnataka border) · Natural hybrid (Malabar × Mysore) · Pre-1970s
Semi-erect panicles, combining vigour of both parents. Bold, globose to ovoid capsules, intermediate morphology. Excellent flavour and disease profile in field.
Key facts
| Type | Botanical type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Natural hybrid zone, Western Ghats (Kerala–Karnataka border) |
| Breeder / source | Natural hybrid (Malabar × Mysore) |
| Year released | Pre-1970s |
| Parentage | Malabar × Mysore |
| Yield | 300–500 kg dry/ha |
| Tolerance | 900–1200 m elevation optimal; robust in mixed conditions |
| Distinctive features | Semi-erect panicles, bold globose/ovoid pale to medium green capsules |
| Grown in | Kerala (Idukki, Wayanad), higher elevations of cardamom tracts |
| Also known as | Semi-erect panicle type; Intermediate type |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Vazhukka Type in detail
A natural hybrid panicle type of the Western Ghats, combining the plant vigour of Mysore cardamom with the more globose capsule shape associated with Malabar. It produces bold, pale to medium green pods and is valued by growers for capsule size.
Origin & story
Vazhukka emerged as a natural cross between the Malabar and Mysore types in the Western Ghats borderlands of Kerala and Karnataka, well before the 1970s. It is a farmer-selected hybrid rather than the product of a formal breeding programme. More recently, progressive farmer P. N. Surulivel carried out selection within Vazhukka germplasm in Tamil Nadu, beginning in 1986 and propagating from 1991, developing the PNS Vaigai strain. He received an ICAR/Spices Board award for highest cardamom productivity in 2002-2003.
How it grows
Vazhukka is suited to elevations of roughly 900-1200 m in the cardamom tract. Recommended spacing is 2 m x 2 m to 3 m x 2 m depending on soil fertility (KAU Package of Practices). Planting is generally timed to the onset of the monsoon. The PNS Vaigai strain selected from Vazhukka was reported to yield 900-1400 kg of dried capsules per acre in the grower's fields, with a peak award-winning productivity of about 3,250 kg/ha on a well-managed holding.
Quality & character
Semi-erect panicles distinguish Vazhukka from the prostrate Malabar and the more erect Mysore types. Capsules are bold, globose to ovoid, and pale to medium green. The variety is reported to yield a higher dry weight per plant than either parent type.
Why it matters to buyers
The PNS Vaigai strain selected from Vazhukka was reported to fetch prices about 15-20% higher than other local cardamom varieties, attributed to larger capsule size. Bold capsule size makes Vazhukka of interest to whole-pod spice merchants and export-grade buyers. It is grown across Kerala's main cardamom zones such as Idukki and Wayanad, which supports stable supply.
About cardamom
In Kerala's rolling spice gardens, cardamom isn't just one plant—it's three distinct botanical types, each with its own character. The Malabar type, with flowers drooping down like a skirt, thrives in the softer elevations of 600–1200 metres. Mysore stands tall and erect, reaching its best between 900–1200 metres on the wind-swept heights. And Vazhukka, a…
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