Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) - seeds

• 20 seeds of Centella asiatica
• Sold as ornamental and botanical collector's seeds

Sow in spring, in warmth, at around 20 to 25 °C. The seeds are fine: press them onto seed compost and cover them barely, if at all.

The critical point is moisture. The substrate must stay constantly waterlogged until germination, which is unusual for sowing. Stand the container in a saucer of water rather than watering from above, and cover it to keep humidity high.

Prick out when the seedlings have formed two or three round true leaves.

Centella asiatica forms a mat of small rounded leaves, spreading by runners like a strawberry plant. It is happy in a pot or in open ground, provided it never runs short of water. It is not hardy in our climate and must be overwintered frost-free.

It makes an excellent ground cover for the edge of a pond, a cool part of the garden or a generously watered indoor pot.

When should I sow?
In spring, as soon as you can maintain a steady 20 to 25 °C.

What is the difference between the seeds, the plant and the dried leaves?
Three distinct products. This page offers the seeds. The live plant saves you the sowing stage. The dried leaves are collector's plant material.

Can it be sown directly in open ground?
It is risky in our climate: the seeds are fine and germination requires constant warmth and moisture. A controlled sowing in a container is much more successful.

Does the substrate really have to stay waterlogged?
Yes. It is a marsh plant, and this is where most sowings fail.

These seeds are sold as ornamental and botanical collector's seeds. Also worth exploring: our seeds from around the world.