Katuk Sweet Leaf Live Plant (Sauropus androgynus) – 4 inch Pot

Overview

Bring the unique flavor and lush greenery of the tropics to your home with this vibrant katuk live plant. Also widely known as sweet leaf plant, and scientifically named Sauropus androgynus, this remarkable tropical herb is celebrated for its dense foliage, rapid growth, and continuous harvest potential. Originating from Southeast Asia, Katuk is a staple in many cuisines, offering tender, nutritious leaves that can be enjoyed raw in salads, stir-fried, or added to soups and stews. This easy-to-grow plant thrives in a variety of settings, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners looking to expand their edible garden. Its compact, bushy habit makes it well-suited for container gardening on patios or as an attractive, productive addition to warm-climate landscapes. You will receive a healthy katuk live plant, ready to flourish in your care.

Key Benefits

The katuk live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it an invaluable addition to any home garden. Its ease of care and continuous yield are just a few reasons why this sweet leaf plant is gaining popularity among culinary enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals.

• Continuous Harvest: Enjoy a steady supply of fresh, tender leaves throughout the growing season. Regular pruning encourages new growth, ensuring a bountiful yield for your culinary needs.
• Nutrient-Rich Edible: Katuk leaves are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a healthy and delicious addition to a wide range of dishes. They are often used in traditional medicine for their nutritional value.
• Easy to Grow: This resilient plant is forgiving and requires minimal fuss once established. It adapts well to various conditions, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
• Versatile Culinary Use: The mild, slightly nutty flavor of sweet leaf plant leaves makes them perfect for salads, stir-fries, omelets, smoothies, and more. Explore new culinary horizons with this unique ingredient.
• Attractive Foliage: Beyond its utility, the Sauropus androgynus boasts lush, dense green foliage, providing an ornamental touch to your garden or patio. Its bushy appearance enhances any plant collection.
• Container Friendly: Its compact branching habit makes it an excellent choice for container gardening, allowing you to grow this tropical herb even with limited space.
• Fast Growth: Experience quick establishment and rapid growth, allowing you to enjoy harvests sooner.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your katuk live plant is straightforward, especially when provided with the right conditions to mimic its tropical origins. This edible garden plant thrives with consistent attention to light, water, and soil. For optimal growth, place your sauropus androgynus in a location that receives partial sun to bright indirect light. Morning sun is ideal, followed by afternoon shade, as too much direct midday sun can cause stress to the leaves. Maintaining consistent soil moisture is crucial; water thoroughly when the top 1–2 inches of soil begin to dry, but avoid waterlogging. The plant is not tolerant of prolonged dry periods.

Well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter is preferred. A standard potting mix amended with compost will provide the necessary nutrients and drainage. The katuk live plant thrives in warm, tropical to subtropical temperatures, ideally between 65–90°F (18–32°C). It is not frost tolerant, and growth will slow significantly below 55°F (13°C), so protect it from cold temperatures. If growing in a container, ensure it has drainage holes. Regular pruning is highly beneficial, encouraging dense, bushy growth and preventing the plant from becoming leggy. Feed your tropical herb live plant every 4–6 weeks during its active growing season with a balanced fertilizer to support its vigorous leafy production. In cooler conditions, growth may slow, requiring a slight reduction in watering, but never allow the soil to completely dry out.

Size & Details

This offering is for a healthy katuk live plant, ready to be transplanted into your garden or a larger container. Each plant is carefully grown and shipped in a 4-inch pot, providing a well-established root system for successful growth. The sweet leaf plant typically grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, and while it can reach larger sizes in the ground in warm climates, it is easily maintained as a compact, bushy plant in containers through regular pruning. Expect rapid growth under ideal conditions, providing you with fresh leaves quickly. This sauropus androgynus is a young, vigorous specimen, poised to become a productive part of your edible garden plant collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The katuk live plant can grow into a multi-stemmed shrub up to 6-10 feet tall in ideal warm conditions if planted in the ground. However, it can be easily kept much smaller, around 2-4 feet, with regular pruning when grown in containers.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: Your sweet leaf plant will arrive in a 4-inch nursery pot, providing a good starting size for transplanting into a larger container or directly into your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While it thrives outdoors in tropical and subtropical climates (USDA zones 9-11), it can also be grown indoors as a houseplant in cooler regions, provided it receives adequate light and warmth. It makes an excellent tropical herb live plant for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The sauropus androgynus prefers partial sun to bright indirect light. Morning sun is beneficial, but it should be protected from intense afternoon sun, which can scorch its leaves.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the katuk live plant is considered relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. It responds well to consistent watering and regular pruning.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will be carefully packaged and shipped to ensure it arrives healthy and ready to thrive. It will be a live, rooted plant in its nursery pot.
• Q: Can I use katuk leaves in cooking? A: Absolutely! Katuk leaves are highly valued for their tender texture and mild, slightly nutty flavor. They are excellent raw in salads, stir-fries, soups, and curries, making it a truly versatile edible garden plant.
• Q: How long until I can harvest leaves? A: With proper care, you can typically begin harvesting leaves from your sweet leaf plant within a few weeks of receiving it. Regular harvesting encourages more vigorous growth.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The katuk live plant is a tropical species and is not frost-tolerant. It will survive winters outdoors only in USDA zones 9-11. In colder zones, it must be brought indoors or treated as an annual.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: Growth slows below 55°F (13°C), and the plant can suffer damage or even die if exposed to temperatures below 40°F (4°C) for extended periods.