Lolot
Piper Sarmentosum

days to maturity: 1 year
plant spacing: 1 plant every 2 feet
sunlight requirements: partial sun, shade loving
look out for: leaf and foot rot
harvest notes: harvest leaves as needed
seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer
perennial

Piper Lolot is a very cool but rare tropical shade tolerant ground cover. Its in the same family as black pepper and betel leaf vine, however its a clumping low growing ground cover instead of a vine. Its flavor is more mild and less peppery than Betel leaf and also more tender, however it is used in a similar manner in Southeast Asia and India. We originally discovered this plant at a specialty orchid nursery in homestead growing under their avocado trees. After some bargaining we were allowed to take some cuttings home and now we occasionally have enough to use for cuttings and new plants. Once established however this ground cover will spread and produce leaves in abundance.

Growth will slow somewhat during the winter as temperatures cool and the plant can not tolerate any frost, so bring it inside for winter if your area freezes. In the Spring make sure to fertilize with composted chicken manure and/or kelp meal to encourage new growth. Lolot plants ideally would have 4-6 hours of sun but not intense mid-day sun, instead they would do well to have access to early morning or late evening sun and partial shade in the hot parts of the day, and moist soil.