Stevia
- botanical name: Stevia rebaudiana
- annual
- height 18-30″
- spacing 18-24″ apart
- full sun tolerant, partial shade
- average-moist, well-drained soil
- flower color white
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers
- use in desserts, fruit salad, in herbal teas
- attracts bees and butterflies
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
Stevia is just now gaining in popularity. Its claim to fame is that it is a healthy natural sweetener 20 to 30 times sweeter than sugar! Simply boil the leaves and allow to steep a few minutes, discard the leaves and use the liquid in drinks and recipes. You can also simply dry the leaves and sprinkle them on food for a sugar substitute.
Blooms repeatedly all year. As it blooms late into the fall, it is a valuable resource for honey bees when other nectars are scarce! This plant does well in containers even when grown indoors.
Sowing Instructions:
Seed does not store well; sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.
Preferred method: start new plants with herbaceous or woody stem cuttings. Place cuttings in fine garden soil or other growing medium. Keep misted until well rooted.
To harvest: harvest leaves before flowering. The leaves can be cut and used immediately. Drying the leaves will increase the sweetness. Store dried leaves in airtight containers.
