Stevia rebaudiana
Sugar leaf, Sweet leaf of paraguay, Honey-yerba
Also known as Eupatorium rebaudianum
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Grown not for its ornamental qualities, but for the properties of its foliage. This is a tender annual plant. The leaves, both in fresh and dried state are very sweet and are used as natural sweeteners, lacking almost any calories. The plant itself has an upright growth habit with long arching leaves with toothy edges, coloured light and bright green. The flowers are gently ornamental, held on long green stems above the leaves and forming clusters of small, many-petalled white blooms. There are small oblong red fruits afterwards. It's possible to find extracts in expensive bottles on the sugar counter. It is used for its sweetening properties in Japan, but is banned in the USA due to arguments that it may have carcinogenic properties.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 0C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Summer · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Use a balanced house plant feed that has been diluted so it is half strength. Feed the plant monthly with this from May until August.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth
Adopt a regime whereby plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
0C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 0 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).