269 Species in Genus Stevia

Table of Contents

Stevia: A Sweet Journey Through the Genus

Hi, I’m Ferb Vu, and today I want to delve into the fascinating world of Stevia, a genus of plants that has captured my attention with its incredible natural sweetness. As someone interested in both botany and healthy living, I find the Stevia genus to be particularly intriguing. It’s a diverse group with a rich history and a promising future. Join me as we explore the intricacies of this remarkable genus.

A Diverse Family of Sweetness

The Stevia genus belongs to the Asteraceae family, a large and diverse group that includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters. Native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Stevia plants are typically herbs or shrubs, boasting around 240 different species. While they share a common ancestry, each species presents unique characteristics in terms of size, leaf shape, and sweetness intensity.

Here are:

Stevia achalensis Hieron.
Stevia alatipes B.L.Rob.
Stevia alexii G.S.S.Almeida & Carv.-Okano
Stevia alpina Griseb.
Stevia alternifolia Hieron.
Stevia amambayensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia amblyolepis B.L.Rob.
Stevia ammotropha B.L.Rob.
Stevia amplexicaulis Hassl.
Stevia anadenotricha (B.L.Rob.) Grashoff
Stevia anderssonii H.Rob.
Stevia andina B.L.Rob.
Stevia anisostemma Turcz.
Stevia apensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia aristata D.Don ex Hook. & Arn.
Stevia aschenborniana Sch.Bip.
Stevia baccharifolia B.L.Turner
Stevia balansae Hieron.
Stevia beckii R.M.King & H.Rob.
Stevia benderi Perkins
Stevia berlandieri A.Gray
Stevia bermejensis Hieron.
Stevia bertholdii B.L.Rob.
Stevia boliviensis Sch.Bip. ex Rusby
Stevia breviaristata Hook. & Arn.
Stevia bridgesii Rusby
Stevia burkartii B.L.Rob.
Stevia burroana B.L.Turner
Stevia cajabambensis Hieron.
Stevia calderillensis Hieron.
Stevia caltepecana B.L.Turner
Stevia calzadana B.L.Turner
Stevia camachensis Hieron.
Stevia camporum Baker
Stevia caracasana DC.
Stevia carapariensis Cabrera & Vittet
Stevia cardiatica Perkins
Stevia catharinensis Cabrera
Stevia cathartica Poepp.
Stevia centinelae Cabrera
Stevia chacoensis R.E.Fr.
Stevia chamaedrys Griseb.
Stevia chiapensis Grashoff
Stevia chilapensis Soejima & Yahara
Stevia cinerascens Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia claussenii Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia clinopodioides Greenm.
Stevia clivicola B.L.Rob.
Stevia coahuilensis Soejima & Yahara
Stevia cochabambensis Hieron.
Stevia collina Gardner
Stevia commixta B.L.Rob.
Stevia concordiana B.L.Turner
Stevia congesta Hook. & Arn.
Stevia connata Lag.
Stevia constricta (Grashoff) Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia copiosa J.Kost.
Stevia cordifolia Benth.
Stevia crassicephala Cabrera
Stevia crassifolia Soejima & Yahara
Stevia crenata Benth.
Stevia crenulata Baker
Stevia cruziana Malme
Stevia cruzii Grashoff
Stevia cryptantha Baker
Stevia cuneata Hassl.
Stevia cuzcoensis Hieron.
Stevia decumbens Greene
Stevia decussata Baker
Stevia deltoidea Greene
Stevia dianthoidea Hieron.
Stevia dictyophylla B.L.Rob.
Stevia discolor B.L.Rob.
Stevia divaricata DC.
Stevia dubia B.L.Rob.
Stevia ecatepecana Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia eclipes B.L.Rob.
Stevia elatior Kunth
Stevia enigmatica B.L.Turner
Stevia entreriensis Hieron.
Stevia ephemera Grashoff
Stevia estrellensis Hassl. ex B.L.Rob.
Stevia eupatoria (Spreng.) Willd.
Stevia fiebrigii Hieron.
Stevia filipes Rusby
Stevia filodecaballoana Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia fruticosa Griseb.
Stevia galeopsidifolia Hieron.
Stevia gardneriana Baker
Stevia gilliesii Hook. & Arn.
Stevia glandulosa Hook. & Arn.
Stevia glanduloso-pubescens Hieron.
Stevia glomerata Hieron.
Stevia gratioloides Hook. & Arn.
Stevia grazielae Quaresma & J.N.Nakaj.
Stevia grisebachiana Hieron.
Stevia heptachaeta DC.
Stevia herrerae B.L.Rob.
Stevia hilarii B.L.Rob.
Stevia hintonii (Grashoff) B.L.Turner
Stevia hintoniorum B.L.Turner
Stevia hirsuta DC.
Stevia hispidula DC.
Stevia hoppii B.L.Rob.
Stevia hypomalaca B.L.Rob.
Stevia iltisiana Grashoff
Stevia incognita Grashoff
Stevia involucrata Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia isomeca Grashoff
Stevia jaliscensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia jorullensis Kunth
Stevia jujuyensis Cabrera
Stevia karwinskyana Steud.
Stevia kuhnioides Rusby ex B.L.Rob.
Stevia kuntzei Hieron.
Stevia lasioclada Grashoff
Stevia latifolia Benth.
Stevia lechleri Hieron.
Stevia lehmannii Hieron.
Stevia lemmonii A.Gray
Stevia leptophylla Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia leucosticta B.L.Rob.
Stevia liebmannii Sch.Bip. ex Klatt
Stevia lilloi B.L.Rob.
Stevia lita Grashoff
Stevia lucida Lag.
Stevia lundiana DC.
Stevia macbridei B.L.Rob.
Stevia macvaughii Grashoff
Stevia maimarensis (Hieron.) Cabrera
Stevia mandonii Sch.Bip.
Stevia martinii B.L.Turner
Stevia mascotensis Soejima & Yahara
Stevia melancholica B.L.Rob.
Stevia melissifolia Sch.Bip.
Stevia menthifolia Sch.Bip.
Stevia mercedensis Hieron.
Stevia mexicana Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia miahuatlana B.L.Turner
Stevia micradenia B.L.Rob.
Stevia micrantha Lag.
Stevia microchaeta Sch.Bip.
Stevia minor Griseb.
Stevia mitopoda B.L.Rob.
Stevia monardifolia Kunth
Stevia morii R.M.King & H.Rob.
Stevia multiaristata Spreng.
Stevia myriadenia Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia myricoides McVaugh
Stevia neglecta Rusby
Stevia nelsonii B.L.Rob.
Stevia neurophylla B.L.Rob. & Greenm.
Stevia oaxacana Soejima & Yahara
Stevia obovata Rusby
Stevia occidentalis (Grashoff) Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia okadae Cabrera
Stevia oligocephala DC.
Stevia oligophylla Soejima & Yahara
Stevia ophiomaches B.L.Rob.
Stevia ophryodonta B.L.Rob.
Stevia ophryophylla B.L.Rob.
Stevia organensis Gardner
Stevia origanoides Kunth
Stevia orizabensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia ovalis B.L.Rob.
Stevia ovata Willd.
Stevia pabloensis Hieron.
Stevia pallida Hieron.
Stevia palmeri A.Gray
Stevia parvifolia Hassl.
Stevia pauciflora J.Kost.
Stevia pearcei B.L.Rob.
Stevia pelophila S.F.Blake
Stevia pennellii B.L.Rob.
Stevia perfoliata Cronquist
Stevia petiolata Sch.Bip.
Stevia philippiana Hieron.
Stevia phlebophylla A.Gray
Stevia pilosa Lag.
Stevia plummerae A.Gray
Stevia pohliana Baker
Stevia polycephala Bertol.
Stevia polyphylla DC.
Stevia porphyreoides Yahara & Soejima ex B.L.Turner
Stevia potosiensis R.M.King & H.Rob.
Stevia potosina Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia potrerensis Hieron.
Stevia pratheri B.L.Turner
Stevia procumbens Hieron.
Stevia puberula Hook.
Stevia punensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia purdiei B.L.Rob.
Stevia puricana B.L.Turner
Stevia purpusii B.L.Rob.
Stevia pyrolifolia Schltdl.
Stevia quiexobra B.L.Turner
Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni
Stevia reclinata Rusby
Stevia regnellii Sch.Bip.
Stevia reinana B.L.Turner
Stevia resinosa Gardner
Stevia reticulata Grashoff
Stevia revoluta B.L.Rob.
Stevia riedelii Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Stevia rojasii Hassl.
Stevia rosei B.L.Rob.
Stevia rotundifolia Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia rzedowskii McVaugh
Stevia sabulonis B.L.Rob.
Stevia sahuaribana B.L.Turner
Stevia salicifolia Cav.
Stevia samaipatensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia sanguinea Hieron.
Stevia santacruzensis Hieron.
Stevia sarensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia satureiifolium (Lam.) Cav.
Stevia scabrella Benth.
Stevia scabrelloides Soejima & Yahara
Stevia schiblii B.L.Turner
Stevia schreiteri B.L.Rob.
Stevia seemannii Sch.Bip.
Stevia seemannioides Grashoff
Stevia seleriana B.L.Rob.
Stevia selloi (Spreng.) B.L.Rob.
Stevia serboana B.L.Turner
Stevia serrata Cav.
Stevia setifera Rusby ex B.L.Rob.
Stevia soratensis Hieron.
Stevia spathulata Cabrera
Stevia stolonifera Yahara & Soejima
Stevia strotheriana B.L.Turner
Stevia stuebelii Hieron.
Stevia suaveolens Lag.
Stevia subpubescens Lag.
Stevia talpensis Grashoff
Stevia tarijensis Hieron.
Stevia tenuis Hook. & Arn.
Stevia tephra B.L.Rob.
Stevia tephrophylla S.F.Blake
Stevia tomentosa Kunth
Stevia totalcoana B.L.Turner
Stevia totorensis B.L.Rob.
Stevia triangularis Grashoff
Stevia triaristata Hieron.
Stevia trifida Lag.
Stevia triflora DC.
Stevia tunariensis Hieron.
Stevia tunguraguensis Hieron.
Stevia urceolata Grashoff
Stevia urticifolia Thunb.
Stevia vacana B.L.Turner
Stevia vaccinioides J.Kost.
Stevia vaga Griseb.
Stevia velutinella Grashoff
Stevia vernicosa Greenm.
Stevia veronicae DC.
Stevia verticillata Schltdl.
Stevia viejoana Soejima, Yahara & K.Watan.
Stevia villaregalis McVaugh
Stevia villaricensis (B.L.Rob.) Cabrera & Vittet
Stevia viscida Kunth
Stevia wageneri Hieron.
Stevia weberbaueri B.L.Rob.
Stevia westonii R.M.King & H.Rob.
Stevia yaconensis Hieron.
Stevia yalae Cabrera
Stevia zacatecana McVaugh
Stevia zaragozana B.L.Turner
Stevia zephyrantha Grashoff

How to grow stevia plant?

Growing stevia has been a bit of a mixed bag for me. I started some plants indoors from seed, and only a couple managed to sprout. But, I bought a few established seedlings, and those took off like crazy! The key seems to be plenty of sun and warmth – they adore it. Mine are in big pots on my patio, and I make sure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. The biggest perk is their sweet leaves! I use them fresh in drinks, or I’ll sometimes dry and crush them for a sprinkle of natural sweetness.

Is stevia plant safe?

The safety of stevia is a bit tricky. While the whole-leaf stevia plant isn’t approved for consumption, the highly refined extracts of stevia, called steviol glycosides, are considered safe by the FDA. I personally mostly use the refined stevia products since they’re readily available (look for ingredients like “stevia extract” or “Reb A”). I’d love to grow a big stevia plant for fresh leaves, but I always do a bit of extra research before using any homegrown herb extensively.

How to use stevia plant?

My favorite way to use my stevia plant is to pluck a few leaves directly into drinks for a subtle sweetness. A single leaf in a mug of hot tea adds a lovely, natural sweetness with a hint of earthiness. If I want a stronger sweetener, I dry the leaves and grind them into a fine powder. This is perfect for sprinkling into oatmeal, yogurt, or even the occasional baked good. I haven’t tried making my own extracts yet, but I’ve heard it’s possible and I’m curious to try it someday!

How to harvest stevia plant?

Harvesting my stevia plant feels really rewarding! The leaves are their sweetest before the plant flowers, so I keep an eye out for those flower buds. When I’m ready to harvest, I like to do it in the morning after the dew is gone. I’ll either pluck individual leaves or snip off an entire stem. For drying, I find it works best to hang the stems upside down in a warm, dry spot – my pantry is perfect for that. Once they’re completely dry, I just strip the leaves and either store them whole or grind them into a powder.

Where does the stevia plant come from?

While I’ve never personally been there, I know the stevia plant originally comes from South America – specifically Paraguay and Brazil. It’s fascinating that indigenous people there have used it for its sweet properties for centuries! It makes me appreciate being able to grow a little piece of that history in my own backyard. I often think about the journey of the stevia plant and how incredible it is that I can access a little bit of that tradition through my local gardening shop.

Where to buy stevia plant?

Finding my first stevia plants was an adventure! I didn’t have much luck with big box garden stores, they seem to focus on the more common herbs. Local nurseries were my saving grace – I found a couple of established seedlings at a smaller, family-owned place. Some online gardening shops offer stevia plants too, but shipping live plants always makes me a little nervous. If you haven’t had any luck at your usual garden centers, try browsing online or checking out smaller nurseries that specialize in herbs.

How to dry stevia plant leaves?

Drying my stevia leaves is super easy and I love having a stash on hand, ready to sweeten things up. My favorite method is to hang small bunches of stems upside down in a warm, dry place. A dark cupboard or pantry works great. Once the leaves are completely crispy, I pluck them off and store them in an airtight jar. If I’m in a hurry, I sometimes pop the leaves on a baking sheet in a low-temperature oven. But the hanging method seems to preserve more of that fresh, slightly sweet herbal aroma.

Is stevia plant a perennial?

Technically, yes, stevia is a tender perennial. That means it can live for multiple years in warm climates. But sadly, it’s not winter-hardy in my area. My stevia plant always dies back when the temperatures turn frosty. So, I treat it as an annual and plant fresh seedlings each year. I’d love to someday figure out how to overwinter it indoors, but until then, I’m content to enjoy it during the warm seasons.

The Future of Stevia

As awareness of the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption grows, the demand for natural alternatives like Stevia is on the rise. This trend is driving innovation in the Stevia industry, with researchers and companies working to develop new and improved Stevia-based products.

The future of Stevia looks bright. With its incredible sweetness, potential health benefits, and growing popularity, Stevia is poised to play a significant role in the future of food and health. As we continue to explore the vast potential of this remarkable genus, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting applications of Stevia in the years to come.

I hope this exploration of the Stevia genus has been informative and engaging. As we’ve seen, Stevia is more than just a sugar substitute; it’s a diverse and fascinating genus with a rich history and a promising future. Whether you’re a botanist, a health enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys a touch of natural sweetness, the world of Stevia has something to offer everyone.