Does Okra Grow in the Wild

Although the plant has been well known in India for a long time, it is not found wild there. Modern travelers have found okra growing truly wild, however, along the White Nile and elsewhere in the upper Nile country as well as in Ethiopia.

Where does okra grow naturally?

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), native to Africa and related to hibiscus, arrived in North America in the 1600s. This edible green seed pods quickly became popular in the Deep South as both a side dish and a thickening for gumbo and stews. As a crop, oka thrives in any climate where corn will grow.

Where does okra grow in the US?

Leading okra-producing states are Texas, Georgia, California, and Florida.