Plants thought to be native to India but were actually brought from foreign countries

India is often thought of as a land of ancient, native plants, but many of the crops and trees we now treat as “Indian” actually came from other parts of the world.

Over centuries, trade routes, colonial rule, and scientific exchanges moved seeds and saplings across continents. Plants that started as a few exotic arrivals in royal gardens or coastal ports have now become part of daily food, medicine, and landscaping.

This cross‑continental movement has given India new flavours, colours, and materials apart from the native ones

Here are some plants and vegetable varieties