Stevia Stevia rebaudiana
- Phonetic Spelling
- STEE-vee-uh re-bawd-ee-AH-nuh
- Description
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Sweetleaf is a tender perennial in the aster family and is native to warm humid climates in South America. It reaches 1-2 feet tall and is typically grown for its leaves from which a sweetener is made. Flowers are generally pruned to improve the flavor of the leaves.
This plant needs sandy well-drained but moist soil in sun to partial shade. In NC it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors for the winter. Cuttings can also be taken.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stevia
- Species:
- rebaudiana
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Paraguay
- Edibility:
- Leaves are highly edible and used as a sweetener. They can be eaten off the plant, used in teas or dried.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herb
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- The tubular flowers are white with light purple accents and borne in terminal clusters. Prune off flowers for better-tasting leaves
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-inch opposite, slender oblong leaves have a pronounced midrib.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green thin stems can be somewhat floopy
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
