Hoja Santa
Plant Size Guide

Hoja Santa
Piper Auritum
days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant per yard (running invasive shrub)
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: Invasive - plant in a pot and keep it trimmed back
harvest notes: harvest leaves regularly
perennial
Hoja santa is a popular Mexican herb used to flavor many dishes from soups to Oaxacan Mole Verde. The fresh leaves are sometimes also used to wrap tamales. The large leaves (up to a foot across) of the plant have an unusual flavor that is hard to describe. It is a part of the peppercorn family, and so it has a slight pepper flavor as well as black licorice note as well. It is commonly called “root beer plant” because it kind of smells like root beer. Please be careful when planting Hoja Santa because it can be INVASIVE. The plant sends many underground shoots that will sprout up near the original plant. Since it is such a fun and amazing flavor to be able to grow in South Florida, don’t be afraid of it’s invasive quality, simply plant it in a container or a spot in your garden that is either surrounded by large trees or concrete so that it cannot spread to the rest of the yard.
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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Now Little River Nursery & Little River Gardens
Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.

