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Herbaceous PerennialConservatory Greenhouse

Piper auritum

hoja santa

A tender shrub that can be grown outdoors as a herbaceous perennial. It has very large, heart-shaped, aromatic leaves and flowers resembling cream rat's tails in summer

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Piperaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Piper may be shrubs, climbers or small trees. The leaves vary from narrowly-oval to rounded and may have a pungent aroma. The flowers, with no petals or sepals, appear in narrow spikes, followed by single-seeded fruit
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under heated glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost with added sharp sand in bright, filtered light with high humidity. Outdoors grow in moist, well-drained soil in a sheltered position in light shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in heat in early spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 11 under glass; outdoors cut down to ground in late autumn

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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