Care of the shrub Piper auritum or Mexican pepperleaf |
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The genus Piper, family Piperaceae, comprises 2,000 species of shrubs, trees, and climbing plants distributed throughout tropical regions on all continents. Some species are: Piper auritum, Piper nigrum, Piper longum, Piper bogotense, Piper kadsura, Piper cenocladum. Common names: Mexican pepperleaf, Sacred pepper, Vera Cruz pepper, Root beer plant. This species is native to Central America. They are evergreen shrubs (sometimes trees) that reach 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height. The large and elegant ovate-heart-shaped leaves reach 60 cm (1.96 feet) in length, have a velvety texture and are slightly aromatic. The flowers are small, white or light green, and appear in axillary spikes. They can bloom from mid-summer to early fall. Mexican pepperleaf is used in undergrowth, in shady areas of the garden and in pots. Its leaves with a peppery and aniseed flavor are appreciated in Mexican cuisine and in traditional medicine as a stomachic and analgesic. Piper auritum can grow in full sun exposure if watered enough but prefers a semi-shaded or shaded exposure. It's a tropical plant that does not resist temperatures below 9 ºC (48.2 ºF). Sacred pepper prefers well-drained soil that contains abundant organic matter. Transplant in mid-spring if the pot has become too small. Water regularly with lime-free water so that the substrate never dries completely but does not flood. Root beer plant does not resist drought. Fertilize once with compost or manure in autumn and twice with mineral fertilizer, once in spring and again in early summer. Prune lightly after flowering to control growth and expansion from the rhizomes. If Piper auritum suffers from drought it can be attacked by aphids, mealybugs and mites. Mexican pepperleaf is easily propagated from the suckers it produces on the rhizomes. |
Images of the shrub Piper auritum or Mexican pepperleaf |
 Piper auritum  Piper auritum  Piper auritum |