Kava
Piper methysticum
- Native to:
- Santa Cruz Is., Vanuatu
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Piperaceae
- Genus:
- Piper
- Species:
- Piper methysticum
- USDA Symbol:
- PIME
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers fertile volcanic soils in native habitat
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Kava is primarily propagated vegetatively through stem cuttings; seeds are rarely produced or used for propagation.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI