Sugar Plant

A wholesome alternative to processed sugar and chemically-derived artificial sweeteners, Stevia is becoming more and more popular among health-conscious individuals. It's 20 to 30 times sweeter than sugar cane, yet is non-caloric and doesn't promote tooth decay. Stevia is easy to use, too. Just drop a leaf into hot or cold drinks, or use it like a bay leaf to sweeten meat and vegetables dishes while they cook, it's heat-stable! Grind the dried leaves and sprinkle them into cereals and other cold dishes as you would sugar. You can even extract the oil. The plant is a tender perennial for containers, indoors in a brightly-lit spot. It needs well-drained soil and very little else to grow vigorously, sporting small white flowers in summer. Plant reaches 1 foot tall and about 1 1/2 feet wide.