The Aromatic Herb To Grow As A Beautiful Container Plant That Knocks Thyme Down A Peg

Thyme gets all the glory as the go-to aromatic herb for pots on the patio, but there's a bolder, leafier contender waiting in the wings — one whose heart-shaped leaves release a complex scent. Native to the tropics and prized in traditional cooking for centuries, this striking plant turns a container garden into a full sensory experience, not just a seasoning rack. Once you get a whiff of hoja santa (Piper auritum), thyme will have some serious competition for counter space. 

This fast-growing flowering shrub gives thyme a run for its money with both culinary and medicinal benefits. It's also known as Mexican pepperleaf, imparting a peppery flavor to Central and South American cuisine. It's one of the plants with medicinal properties you can grow in your garden, and it is used for digestion, wound care, headaches, and more. Crush its leaves with your fingers, and you'll smell root beer; another of its common names is root beer plant. 

Hoja santa endears itself to gardeners with its huge heart-shaped leaves with a fuzzy texture. If you're looking for a gorgeous flowering shrub that thrives in the shade and partial sun, hoja santa is a strong candidate. This plant is a bit naughty, however; it's an aggressive spreader via both seeds and rhizomes, so you'll want to consider growing it in containers. The plant is classified as invasive in Florida and Hawaii.

Hoja santa is cold-hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. Plant from seeds, purchased seedlings, or seedlings you've started indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. You will want to plant in well-draining potting soil containing sphagnum moss. Place the container in a spot with dappled shade. 

Hoja santa is a water-loving plant that needs evenly and consistently moist soil; you should not allow it to dry out. Water it whenever it begins to dry. Apply fertilizer, preferably one intended for tropical plants, every six to eight weeks, following label instructions. Prune as needed to maintain the plant's shape. Expect small, white, fragrant flowers in late summer or fall; these may appear year-round in warmer climates.

Check pots to make sure plants aren't root-bound, and repot every other year. This plant can grow as tall as 10 feet, but you can manipulate its size by the size of the container, using a smaller pot if you want to keep plants from getting too large. Propagate hoja santa via cuttings from rhizomes by cutting a rhizome from the plant and transplanting it into another container. Hoja santa has few pest and disease issues but may get visits from spider mites, mealybugs, scale, or aphids, so regular monitoring for them is best.