Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant (sauropus androgynus)

ABOUT THIS FLOWERING PLANT

Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant (sauropus androgynus) – Katuk – One of the most popular leaf vegetables in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Katuk is notable for high yields and palatability. The shoot tips have been sold as tropical asparagus. In Vietnam, the locals cook it with crab meat, minced pork or dried shrimp to make soup. In Malaysia, it is commonly stir-fried with egg or dried anchovies. The flowers and small purplish fruits of the plant have also be eaten In Indonesia, the leaves of the plant are used to make a tasty infusion.
The growth rate of Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. A few leaves are often trimmed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress.

QUICK SPECS

FLOWERING PLANT CARE

Katuk Sweet Leaf Plants are easy to grow, flowering plants that produce lightly scented, blooms throughout the summer. Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant will grow happily and flower in a pot or in-ground. They add a tropical accent to any outdoor space, garden or patio. In cooler zones a containerized Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant can be relocated indoors for the winter months.
When you receive your new Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location, simply keep moist. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant.

CONTAINER SIZE

All Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant grow very well in containers, indoors or on the patio. Plants need enough room for growth, generally a 6″ to a 12″ round container will suffice to get started. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow, at that point it is time for a larger pot.

SOIL

Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant enjoy a well drained, general potting mix easily found at your local box store. Remember try to stay away from arid or wet, mucky soils.

FERTILIZER

To help establish your new Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant, fertilize sparingly a few inches away from the base, tri-annually with a slow time released product. Unfertilized they will tend to grow at a slower pace. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant. Its best to use a brand you know and trust.

GROW ZONE & LIGHT

Best outdoors if grown in zone 10-11, find your zone here. This Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant requires 80-100% sunlight. Depending on your location full sun is often best. In the northern end of their grow zone Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 4a-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before winter.

BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS

At the nursery these Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant this Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant in a brightly lit area you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting.

WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE

All Katuk Sweet Leaf Plant for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, -6 or -8 will arrive in a standard 4 inch, 6 inch or 8 inch round growers pot respectively. Our new, reusable, recyclable deep plugs are 7 or 9 inches deep and 2 or 2.5 inches in width. Products growing in these pots are easy to transplant and allow for deeper roots and faster growth, they are designated with a sku ending in -7 or -9. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge. For more information, click the “best packaging” link at the bottom of this page.