Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America.

The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet herb, sugarleaf or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia’s taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar. With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar; stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets. If you enjoy gardening, Stevia can be a rewarding herb to grow. While it’s not feasible for most of us to grow sugarcane or sorghum in our backyard, several Stevia plants will fit nicely into a small garden. Recipes utilizing Green Stevia Powder are now available, and the whole leaves add to the flavour of herbal teas. Stevia rebaudiana is a tender perennial herb, native to semi-humid subtropical regions of Paraguay and Brazil. Wild plants occur on acid soils that are constantly moist, but not inundated, often near the edge of marshes or streams where the soil is sandy. In the garden, too, Stevia doesn’t like to dry out, but standing water will encourage rot and disease. Stevia can be a successful garden plant in most climates with the use of a few simple techniques. Raised beds or hills prevent “wet feet,” while an organic mulch and frequent watering ensure a constant supply of moisture.