Melinda Myers

Stevia

Botanical Name

Stevia rebaudiana

Hardiness

Zones 10-11, grown as annual elsewhere

Height

12 to 36 inches

Width

12 inches

Flowers

Fall: white

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Transplant in spring after all danger of frost has passed
• Space plants 18 inches apart
• Mulch soil to help retain consistent moisture
• Requires a well drained soil to prevent root rot
• Use leaves throughout the summer, but they are at their peak and should be harvested in fall as flowers develop
• Cut and dry whole stems by gathering them in bundles with a rubber band. Hang the bundles in a location with good air circulation out of direct sunlight. Once dried the leaves should be stripped from the stem and stored whole or ground into a powder stored in airtight containers. The general conversion rule is to use 3-4 teaspoons of dried stevia powder in place of a whole cup of cane sugar or 1/8 teaspoon of dried stevia to equal the sweetness of 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Problems

Root rot in poorly drained soils.