Botanical profile

Stevia

Latin name
Stevia rebaudiana
Common name
Stevia
Type
Tropical aromatic herb
Family
Asteraceae

Stevia is a tropical aromatic plant highly prized for its green foliage with a naturally sweet taste. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried to sweeten infusions, iced teas, lemonades, desserts, fruit salads, smoothies, and homemade preparations. It is ideal for herb gardens, container vegetable gardens, edible planters, and patios, where it adds a gourmet, original, and easy-to-harvest touch.

Easy to grow during the warm season, stevia prefers a sunny to slightly semi-shaded location, in fertile, light, fresh, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to maintain tender and flavorful foliage, but excessive water around the roots should be avoided. As it is not hardy in our climate, it is generally grown as an annual or brought indoors before the cold, in a very bright spot.

Both decorative, useful, and very different from classic herbs, stevia is perfect for gardeners who want to grow a natural sweetener at home. Frequent harvesting of young leaves promotes a denser and more productive plant throughout the season. It's an excellent plant to enrich a gourmet garden, an urban vegetable patch, or a collection of herbs with an original, practical, and sweet variety.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Naturally sweet foliage, ideal for herbal teas and beverages
Container, balcony, greenhouse, herb garden, herbal tea, drinks and desserts
Container growing
Excellent container culture, recommended for cold climates
Seasonal care
Pinch regularly for a compact shape; harvest leaves before flowering; bring indoors before cold weather
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Not hardy
Exposure
Full sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep the soil slightly moist without waterlogging
Humidity
Average humidity; prefers cool but well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light and regular fertilisation in pots during growth
Soil type
Fertile, light, cool, well-drained soil
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
10°C
Propagation method
Cuttings or seeds
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer to Fall
Flower color
White
Fruiting
Seeds at the end of the season
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous in cool climates
Shape
Upright and branched bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches)
Width
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Growth rate
Average growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Lemon balm, mint, lemon verbena, basil
Spacing
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves from spring to autumn
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.