SPERLI Stevia Süße

Stevia, the sweet herb from South America: grown as an annual, for sunny, warm spots, harvested from July to September – one portion for about 8 plants.

The story

Origins & history

Stevia comes from the border region of Paraguay and Brazil. The Guaraní called the plant “ka’a he’ẽ”, sweet herb, and traditionally used its leaves to sweeten mate tea. It was scientifically described at the end of the 19th century; the species name honours the Paraguayan chemist Ovidio Rebaudi.

Uses

The leaves taste remarkably sweet. Freshly picked or dried, a few leaves can be added to tea, lemonade or desserts – sparingly, as a little goes a long way. In summer, stevia does best in a warm, sunny spot.

Meaning

The genus name Stevia recalls the 16th-century Spanish botanist Pedro Jaime Esteve. So genus and species together bear the names of two scholars from two continents.

A thought for giving

An inconspicuous green leaf that is sweeter than you would expect. The loveliest surprises are often the ones you do not see coming.

At a glance

• Contents: 1 packet for approx. 8 plants
• Botanical name: Stevia rebaudiana
• Life cycle: annual
• Position: sunny
• Sow indoors: March–May
• Harvest: July–September
• Sowing depth: 0–0.5 cm
• Germination temperature: 20–25 °C
• Germination time: 14–21 days
• Plant spacing: 25 cm
• Row spacing: 30 cm
• Seed type: loose seed

How to sow

1. Start indoors from March to May, in Anzuchterde in the Anzuchthaus PRO24.
2. Cover the seeds only very thinly (0–0.5 cm).
3. Keep evenly moist at 20–25 °C – germination takes 14–21 days.
4. Plant in a sunny spot, 25 cm apart; feed with Stevia-Dünger.

Delivery time: 1–2 weeks. Manufacturer: SPERLI GmbH. Seeds, not a plant – the image shows the original packet.

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