Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Stevia Plants: A Sweet-Leaf Herb for the Lavender Tea Garden
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Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a small, upright herb whose thin green leaves taste intensely sweet. Pick a leaf, chew it, and the sweetness is immediate. That makes it a fun, useful plant for anyone who brews tea, mixes lemonade or likes a few herbs by the kitchen door.
It is a tender perennial, so in Michigan it is grown as an annual or brought indoors for winter.
Stevia at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Stevia rebaudiana |
| Foliage | Thin green oval leaves with slightly toothed edges, very sweet |
| Flowers | Small white tubular flowers with light purple accents |
| Size | 12 to 24 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-August, most abundant in fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 10a to 11b; grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in zones 5 and 6 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Deer | Resistant |
Stevia and lavender in a tea garden
Lavender and stevia make a natural pair for a sunny herb or tea garden. Both like heat and sun, and both earn their keep in the kitchen. A pinch of culinary lavender buds and a few fresh stevia leaves in a pot of hot water make a simple floral, lightly sweet tea without reaching for the sugar bowl.
The difference is water. Stevia wants moderate, steady moisture, while established lavender prefers to dry out. Plant stevia at the lower, slightly moister end of an herb bed, or in a container next to the lavender so each gets its own watering. Containers also make winter easier.
Growing tips
- Sun and heat: full sun and warm weather. It thrives in hot, humid summers.
- Soil: well drained. Overwatering causes root rot, the main problem it has.
- Shape: the stems are weak and brittle, so pinch growing tips early for a bushier plant and set it out of strong wind.
- Frost: frost damages it. Plant out after your last frost; the Frost Date Estimator helps with timing.
Harvesting and using the leaves
Pick leaves as you need them through summer. Fresh or dried, they sweeten teas and other drinks, and can go into salads and sauces. To dry, cut stems on a dry morning, hang them in a shaded, airy spot, then strip the leaves and store them in a sealed jar. Start with a leaf or two; it is much sweeter than it looks.
Overwintering
Stevia does not survive winter outdoors in zones 5 and 6. Before frost, bring a potted plant or a few rooted cuttings indoors to a bright window, or simply replant in spring.
Sizes offered
Stevia comes as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. Larger pots give you a harvest sooner. See the product page for current availability, and use Availability Alerts if it is not in stock right now.
Frequently asked questions
Does stevia smell like anything?
Not much. It has little to no scent; the sweetness is all in the taste of the leaf.
Should I let it flower?
The white flowers come mostly in fall. Many growers harvest heavily before then while the leaves are at their best.
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