🇻🇳 Habitat and Ecology
​Piper sarmentosum (often confused with betel (P. betle)) is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial vine native to a wide area of Southeast Asia. Its distribution spans Northeast India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is a terrestrial plant, typically found in moist, shaded ground within lowland forests, along riverbanks, and in open, damp areas. It is known for its vigorous creeping and scrambling habit, rooting easily at the nodes.
 
​🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
​Commonly known as Wild Betel or Kadok, this plant is grown primarily for its aromatic leaves and culinary use.
 
​Foliage: The leaves are heart-shaped (cordate), 5-10 cm long, and are borne on long petioles. They are thin, smooth, and glossy with a vibrant, dark green colour. The venation is conspicuous, starting from the leaf base.
 
​Growth Habit: It has a creeping, mounding, and scrambling habit, spreading readily via stems that root at the nodes.
 
​Flowers: Flowers are inconspicuous, borne on short, cylindrical, greenish-white spikes (catkins) that emerge opposite the leaves.
 
​Ethnobotany: The leaves are widely used in Southeast Asian cuisine (especially Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese) as a wrapping for savory snacks (like Miang Kham) or as a fresh herb, valued for their mild, peppery, aromatic flavour. Additionally, the roots, stems, and leaves are extensively used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties.
 
​Differentiation: P. sarmentosum is frequently mistaken for the true betel pepper, Piper betle.
​Versus P. betle: P. betle has larger, thicker, and more pungent/bitter leaves, and often requires a sturdy trellis to climb. P. sarmentosum has a milder flavour and a low, sprawling, creeping habit.
 
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Piper sarmentosum is an easy-to-grow, warm-intermediate perennial that thrives under home conditions, particularly for culinary purposes.
 
​Light: Prefers moderate to bright indirect light (semi-shade). It tolerates lower light but growth will be slower; avoid direct, harsh sun.
 
​Substrate: Use a rich, fertile, and well-draining potting mix. Standard houseplant compost mixed with perlite is suitable.
 
​Watering: Keep the medium consistently moist; do not allow the soil to dry out completely. It requires regular watering, especially during the summer.
 
​Temperature:
​Optimal Daytime Temperature: 20-28 C (68-82 F).
​Minimum Winter Temperature: Not below 12 C (54 F). Protect from cold drafts.
 
​Humidity: Moderate to high humidity (50%+) is appreciated.
 
​✨ Unique Features
​This plant is an exceptional culinary herb that provides a fresh, aromatic, peppery flavour unique to Southeast Asian cuisine. Its vigorous, spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for ground cover in a large planter or as a cascading plant in a bright, warm kitchen. Its documented traditional medicinal uses add further appeal.
 
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: Propagated in the UK from our stock plant. Plants are established and measure 20-35 cm
Plant Family: Piperaceae
Plant Passport: A Piper sarmentosum B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB