Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

Natural sweetener plant — leaves are 200–300x sweeter than sugar. Grown as annual in cold zones.

Quick Facts

Sun:☀️ Full Sun

Water:💧💧 Moderate

USDA Zones:Zones 9–11

Space:🪴 Container, 🌱 Small Bed

Soil:Loam, Sandy, Silty

Best Season(s):Spring, Summer

Experience Level:🌱 Beginner

Native Range:South America (Paraguay & Brazil)

Bloom Color:Small white flowers (pinch off to keep leaves sweet)

Bloom Cycle:Late summer to fall

Days to Harvest:60–90 days to first harvest

Harvest Pattern:Continuous / cut-and-come-again

Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Harvest before flowering for sweetest leaves.

💧 Hydroponic Notes

Grows well in Kratky or NFT. Harvest regularly to keep compact. Dry leaves and crush for a natural sweetener.

Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs in small amounts, though it's not a typical pet treat.

Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.

The source of a widely-used natural zero-calorie sweetener (steviol glycosides) — a food/sweetener use, not a medicinal preparation.

Informational only, not medical advice — consult a healthcare provider before using any plant medicinally.

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