Gotu Kola
Centella Asiatica

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant per 2 square feet
sunlight requirements: 6-10 hours
look out for: don’t let the plant dry out
harvest notes: harvest leaves as you need them
perennial

This attractive shade tolerant perennial tropical creeper has been used to treat many conditions for thousands of years in India, China, and Indonesia. Gotu kola thrives in lower light situations and is happy as a potted or hanging plant or planted as a ground cover in your food forest. From the website of Strictly Medicinal Seeds: Traditional usage (Ayurveda): one of the Rasayana, said to increase mental clarity and impart long life.  Used to treat ulcerations both internal and external, improve digestion and fight amoebic dysentery.  Regular use imparts healthy color and tone to skin, treats eczema, psoriasis and rheumatism.  Speeds healthy growth of hair, skin and nails.  The young leaves are tasty in salads and may also be used in smoothies.  The leaves are often juiced, the juice mixed with water and sugar to make a refreshing and cooling drink. This is one of the first plants we grew and sold when we started a nursery but we lost our source for new plant material and we are happy to have secured fresh seedlings from Richters Herbs in Canada to be able to share with you all this season.