Epazote is also known as Wormseed, American Wormseed, Mexican Tea or Herba Sancti Mariae. This annual Mexican herb has a pungent aroma, spear-shaped, deeply toothed leaves and green flowers.

Epazote leaves are used for their pungent flavor and aroma to season soup, corn, beans and shellfish in Mexico. It is used in beans to prevent flatulence. It is also brewed for "Jesuit Tea" but the herb's main use is to expel intestinal worms from humans and animals. Oil of chenopodium is derived from this plant.

Epazote's fragrance is strong and pungent. It has been compared to citrus, petroleum, savory, mint or camphor. We have nick-named it the "diesel leaf plant" in our garden. It smells pretty strong, but we have found that it does add a wonderful depth of flavor to a pot of beans!

Annual or short-lived perennial.

Approx 65 seeds per pack

Click on the stock number, photo, or name for more details and to order.

Planting Instructions

Outdoor Sowing Recommended.

After last frost, sow seeds on soil surface, barely covering with soil, in garden where plants are to grow, in full sun. Germination takes about 3 weeks. Thin to 12" apart.

Does well in most garden soils. Keep evenly moist. Harvest leaves in the morning for full pungency.