Sweetleaf Stevia Plant

Not only can the Sweetleaf Stevia Plant be grown as an attractive ornamental, but its sweet leaves can be used as a sugar alternative. Widely used as a substitute for sugar, its leaves are sweet tasting whether used dried or fresh and can be used in several ways. It forms a bushy habit of green foliage up to 3 feet high and has the best flavor just before it develops its white flowers in late summer. As a tender plant, it is usually grown as an annual in colder areas. Sweetleaf Stevia Plant Care  Being tender, the Sweetleaf Stevia Plant should not be placed outside until all risk of frost has passed, and it has been gradually hardened off first. It prefers to be grown in loose, free-draining soil in full sun. When grown as a group, it can be planted with a spacing of around 2 to 3 feet between plants. The leaves can be harvested once they are large enough to use. Growing Sweetleaf Stevia PlantThe Sweetleaf Stevia Plant thrives when placed in a south-facing spot where it will receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Native to parts of South America, it prefers a warm climate and needs to be overwintered indoors to survive the cold. It can also be grown indoors all year round if placed on a sunny, south-facing windowsill to give it the light it needs.  When grown in a container, the Sweetleaf Stevia Plant needs adequate drainage holes so any excess water can drain away freely. A fertile and loose potting mix is recommended to help support its bushy growth. Watering Sweetleaf Stevia PlantThe Sweetleaf Stevia Plant prefers moist, but not overly wet or saturated soil. Generally, once the top layer of soil is dry to the touch, it can be watered again. Feeding Sweetleaf Stevia PlantWhen grown in the ground in a fertile soil, stevia does not generally require any supplementary fertilization. However, when grown in a pot or a container, a diluted liquid feed can be applied during the growing season to promote new foliage.Sweetleaf Stevia Plant InformationUSDA Hardiness Zones: 8 – 10Plant Type: Edible PlantsLight Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)Mature Height: 2 – 3 FeetMature Spread: 2 – 3 FeetMature Spacing: 2 – 3 FeetHabit: UprightFlower Color(s): WhiteFlower Description: Bloom Period: Foliage Type: HerbaceousFoliage Color(s): GreenFoliage Description: Seasonal Interest: N/AWatering: AverageResists: N/ATolerates: HeatAttracts: BeesContainer Role: Uses: Borders, ContainersFeatures: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, FragrantBrand: Sarahs Superb HerbsCommon Name: Sweetleaf Stevia PlantOther Name(s): SweetleafScientific Name: Stevia rebaudiana – Sweetleaf