Stevia rebaudiana - Herb,Herbaceous Plants,Web page Navigation - Candyleaf, Stevia, Sugar Leaf, Sugarleaf, Sweet Leaf, Sweetleaf Page

Stevia, also known as Stevia rebaudiana, Candyleaf, Sweetleaf, or Sugarleaf, is a small, tender perennial plant native to the humid climates of South America. Measuring 1-2 feet tall, Stevia is primarily grown for its leaves, from which a potent natural sweetener is derived. This versatile plant can be cultivated as an annual or wintered indoors, due to its sensitivity to frost. Stevia prefers a warm, sunny environment and thrives in moist, sandy, well-drained soil.
This unique plant has slender, elongated leaves that grow parallel to the stem. The blossoms, usually pruned to enhance leaf flavor, are white with subtle hints of purple and are scentless. Stevia also yields ribbed, spindle-shaped fruit. The leaves of the Stevia plant contain steviol glycosides, compounds that are 200-300 times sweeter than regular sugar, making them an ideal source for stevia sweeteners.
Historically, the Guaraní people of Brazil and Paraguay leveraged the extraordinary sweetness of Stevia, or ka'a he'ẽ, as they call it, in their yerba mate tea, medicines, and as a 'sweet treat'. Now, globally, its leaf extracts, processed into a powder, stand as a leading sugar substitute. By cultivating Stevia, you're not only contributing to your health but also participating in centuries-old botanical and cultural traditions.