Description
A bit of an identity crisis with this plant: you may find it listed botanically as Lippia dulcis, Phyla scaberrima, or Phyla dulcis and commonly as Aztec sweet herb, bushy lippia, honey herb, Mayan mint, or yerba dulce, among other names. Whatever it’s called, it’s one of my top favorite plants for fragrant foliage. The rough, deeply veined, rich green leaves—often blushed with reddish purple in sunshine—release a strong scent (distinctly sweet but also a touch camphorous) when you rub or brush by them. They grow on long, slender, trailing stems. Planted in the ground, the plants form low carpets to about 1 foot tall, with the stems taking root where they touch the soil. Because Aztec sweet herb is frost-tender, though, I think it’s best in a pot or even a hanging basket, so you can bring it indoors in the winter. Oh yes, it does flower too, with small white bobbles all along the stems through most of the growing season.
Though it’s not a traffic stopper to look at, Aztec sweet herb is a real treat to grow by a door or bench, where you can easily reach the leaves to enjoy their scent. It’s also a fantastic addition to handheld bouquets for its fragrance. Aztec sweet herb has medicinal and culinary uses too, but I’ll let you look into those for yourself; I grow it only as an ornamental. Full sun to light shade. Generally hardy in Zone 9 and south; elsewhere, you could grow it as an annual or as a tender perennial you overwinter indoors.
Collected in September and October 2023. Each packet contains at least 15 seeds. Shipping to US addresses only.
Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
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