Cardamom is a perennial herb that can grow up to 10 feet tall, producing small, aromatic seeds used as a spice in both sweet and savory dishes worldwide. It thrives in tropical climates with partial shade and well-drained, moist soil, making it an excellent addition to food forests for its shade tolerance and ability to enhance biodiversity. Cardamom plants are typically propagated by division and require regular watering and mulching, with harvest occurring in late summer to early fall when the seed pods ripen.