What Countries Grow Kratom? A Country-by-Country Guide

What countries grow kratom (opens in a new tab)? Mitragyna speciosa grows in a band of tropical countries stretching from Thailand to New Guinea, and it is cultivated more widely than it grows wild. Kew's Plants of the World Online lists the native range as Thailand, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines and New Guinea, and USDA GRIN Taxonomy also records cultivation in Vietnam. Below is a country-by-country overview of how much kratom each country grows and how its laws shape cultivation.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's leading source of exported kratom. Most of it comes from Borneo, in the province of West Kalimantan, where districts such as Kapuas Hulu, Melawi, Ketapang and Sekadau have many smallholder kratom farms. Sumatra, also within the native range, has smaller growing areas. Trees are typically grown on riverbank land and family plots, and leaves are picked by hand and dried locally. Indonesian policy on kratom has been debated for years, so farmers and exporters operate under national rules that continue to evolve. The guide to where they grow kratom describes these farms in detail.

Thailand

Kratom is deeply rooted in southern Thailand, where it grows in forests and village gardens. Thailand once controlled the plant as a Category 5 narcotic, but an amendment to the Narcotics Act that took effect on August 24, 2021 removed kratom from that list. Growing kratom trees is now legal in Thailand and cultivation has expanded, while separate rules continue to regulate sale and certain uses. Researchers have since surveyed naturally growing kratom populations across four regions of the country, documenting the tree's wide distribution.

Malaysia

Kratom (often called ketum locally) grows naturally in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in the northern states near the Thai border. However, Malaysia restricts kratom under national law, so it is not openly farmed for export the way it is in Indonesia. Wild and backyard trees are common, but commercial trade is limited by regulation.

The Philippines

In the Philippines kratom is known as mambog. It grows in low-altitude forests, with records from Cagayan Province on Luzon, Mindoro and Mindanao. The Philippines is not a major exporter, and the species is not scheduled by the country's Dangerous Drugs Board. The Philippines guide covers its range and local names.

Cambodia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea

• Cambodia: Part of the native range in Indo-China. Wild trees occur, but the country is not a significant exporter.
• Vietnam: Recorded by USDA GRIN as a place where kratom is cultivated. Production is small compared with Indonesia.
• Papua New Guinea: New Guinea marks the eastern edge of the native range. Kratom grows wild there but is not a notable commercial crop.

Growing kratom outside Asia

Kratom is not native anywhere outside tropical Asia and New Guinea, but hobbyists grow it in many countries wherever they can provide warmth, humidity and light — and wherever the law allows. Common examples:

• United States: Indoors, in greenhouses, and outdoors in Hawaii and the warmest parts of South Florida, subject to state law. See whether it is legal to grow kratom in the US.
• Europe: Several European countries control kratom, so growing it may be illegal depending on location.
• Australia and New Zealand: Kratom is controlled in both countries.

Because laws change, anyone outside Southeast Asia should check current national and local rules before acquiring a plant. Nothing on this site is legal advice.

Comparison: kratom growing by country

• Indonesia: Native; large-scale smallholder farming; main exporter.
• Thailand: Native; cultivation legal since 2021; growing domestic production.
• Malaysia: Native; legally restricted; limited trade.
• Philippines: Native (mambog); wild in low-altitude forests; small scale.
• Cambodia: Native; wild trees; minor.
• Vietnam: Cultivated; minor.
• Papua New Guinea: Native; wild; minor.
• USA, Europe and others: Hobby growing only, where legal.

What these countries have in common

Every country that grows kratom commercially shares a hot, wet, frost-free climate. Wild kratom favors lowland forest, riverbanks and seasonally flooded ground. The climate guide explains the temperature, rainfall and humidity behind those conditions, and the native range guide maps where the tree occurs in the wild.

Does country of origin tell a buyer anything?

Origin labels such as “Borneo,” “Sumatra” or “Thai” appear on many products. In practice, much of the world's supply comes from Indonesia regardless of the name on the label, and origin alone says little about quality or consistency. More useful signals are third-party lab testing and how openly a vendor explains sourcing. Sacred Plant Life's checklist covers what to check before buying kratom online (opens in a new tab).

Growing kratom if you don't live in one of these countries

Most home growers live far outside the tropics. That is workable: kratom adapts well to containers, and with a warm room, a humidifier and a good light it can grow steadily for years. Start with these guides:

1. How to grow kratom indoors for lighting, humidity and temperature.
2. Kratom grow zones to see whether outdoor growing is realistic where you live.
3. Overwintering kratom for bringing outdoor container trees inside before cold weather.