Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

annual0.6×0.6 mzone 8–11light shade

Profile

Family: Asteraceae
Habit: annual
Height: 0.6 m
Spread: 0.6 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 3 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 8–11
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt
Soil moisture: moist – very wet
pH: 5.3 – 8.6
Synonyms: Stevia, Sweet leaf-of-Paraguay

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering
Leaf harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible1 of 10

Medicinal1 of 10

Other uses1 of 10

Growing

Stevia prefers full sun to partial shade and requires moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral, organically rich, loamy or sandy soils. It is a tender perennial native to humid tropical regions of Brazil and Paraguay. Plants should be spaced about 18 inches apart and benefit from regular watering without waterlogging. Propagation is best done by stem cuttings or seeds started indoors before transplanting after the last frost. Prune flower buds to improve leaf sweetness and harvest leaves just before flowering for best flavor.

Frequently asked questions

Stevia: how big does it get?

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 0.6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 0.6 m. Growth is medium.

Stevia: what site does it need?

Stevia tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range moist – very wet. The pH may lie between 5.3 and 8.6.

Stevia: is it hardy?

Stevia is listed as hardy in zone 8–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Stevia: when does it flower?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from July to September.

Stevia: is it poisonous?

Individual parts of Stevia are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.

Stevia: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 1/10, Medicinal 1/10, Other uses 1/10.

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