Lippia Species, Aztec Sweet Herb, Bushy Lippia, Honeyherb

While all that is said above is true, it is important to note this plant has a high camphor content, which can be deadly in high amounts....Read More Additionally, the plant may be a carcinogenic. I bought it as a sweetener replacement, but after reading up on it, will likely use as an ornamental. I could not find a lot of research, but thought it important to note these issues.

My two Aztec plants thrived during the record breaking heat and drought we found ourselves in here in the Texas Central Plains this summe...Read Morer. They were planted in the spring and well established before the heat wave. They did receive late afternoon shade. I watched in amazement as they doubled, tripled and quadrupled in space spreading out in all directions as bushes and trees in the same area dried up and died. My favorite combination has become ten sprigs of Aztec plus ten sprigs of peppermint, pull off the leaves, add 8 cups of boiling water, steep and enjoy! A delightful healthy beverage hot or cold or room temp.

I fell in love with this plant’s sweet smell and taste the first time I saw it. I looked for years for it until I saw it again in a co...Read Moreworker’s herb bouquet. The first plant she gave me was wrapped in a wet paper towel and was dead by the end of the day. The second plant had its roots in a cup of water and survived. I first had it growing outside in shade and it didn’t grow much. It started spreading when I gave it about 5-7 hours of sunlight. It seems to spread over ground by runners that put down roots. Once established, it has survived mostly on rain water. It has also over wintered some brief freezes for me outside with a pile of pine straw on top.

This plant is touted as a sugar replacement, and much sweeter than Stevia - it is, indeed, extremely sweet. However, the leaves have a re...Read Moresinous flavor that might preclude its use as a sugar substitute in mildly flavored dishes. I think it would do well in herbal teas, as an additional sweetness and flavoring. The flavor of the plant is definitely too strong to stand alone as a sweetener in baked goods and such.
Still, it is a very attractive ground cover, tough, drought resistant, and cold tolerant. In full sun, the foliage is bronzy-colored. Spicy scent.
The flowers are unusual, beginning as small (1/4") daisy-looking; new petals form continuously on the end of the old, until the flower looks like a long cylinder with white petals on the end. Odd and interesting.