Fever Tea – 10 Seeds

Fever Tea (Lippia javanica) is a strongly fragrant, medicinal plant indigenous to southern and tropical parts of Africa. The plant belongs to the Verbenaceae family. It  is a 1 – 2 m high multi-stemmed, woody erect shrub. The leaves are hairy with noticeable veins and when crushed gives off a strong aroma. The plant produces small cream flowers. These flowers are arranged in dense, rounded flower heads. In Africa it is a well known medicinal plant.

Common names: fever tea, lemon bush (English); koorsbossie, beukesbossie, lemoenbossie (Afrikaans); mutswane, umsutane (Swati); inzinziniba (Xhosa); umsuzwane, umswazi (Zulu); musukudu, bokhukhwane (Tswana)

Fever Tea Medicinal Uses:

• Treatment of Coughs, colds, influenza, asthma and pleurisy.   .
• Treatment of Malaria, measles, skin disorders, scratches and bites.

Growing Fever Tea

Indoor Sowing:  Early Spring.

Direct Sowing: Early Summer.

• It grows relatively fast and prefers sunny areas, but can also grow in partial shade.
• The plant tolerates a wide variety of soil types. It prefers a well-drained loam soil.
• The seeds can be sown in trays in early spring or directly into the beds in early summer.
• Surface sow the seeds and lightly cover the seeds with sowing mix, clean coarse sand, or milled bark.
• Place the tray in a warm, bright area, to germinate.
• Water daily to ensure that the growing medium remains moist.
• The optimum temperature for seed germination is between 15 °C  –  25 °C.
• Although the shrub is somewhat drought tolerant, it grows best when watered regularly.
• It can be grown in containers.