Perennials, Tropicals > Piper > Piper auritum > Piper auritum
Piper auritum
Piper Species, Hoja Santa, Mexican Pepperleaf, Root Beer Plant, Eared pepper.
Origin: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
| Family |
| Piperaceae |
| Genus |
| Piper |
| Species |
| auritum |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Synonyms |
| Piper alstonii, Piper auritilaminum, Piper auritilimbum |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 8a - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 9 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c - H5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -12.2 - 4.5 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 10 - 40 |
| Height |
| 1.2 - 1.8 m |
| Spread |
| 1.2 - 1.8 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Shrubby perennial and is easily identified by its huge leaves. Grows best in part shade or full shade. |
| Habitat |
| Humid forests, and in open areas from the sea level up to about 1500 m of altitude. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Vertical, rough textured stems. |
| Leaf Description |
| Pale green leaves with up to 30 cm long petiole wing-end alternate, ovate, oblong, with suddenly pointed apex, and finely pubescent, soft and aromatic. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America. |
| Propagation |
| By root division or separation of plantlets as they grow up from the soil. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The plant that produces black peppercorns whose uses include green moles, wraps for tamales and fish, and flavouring soups and rice. Also used in cocktails and appetizers. |
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