Description
Centella asiatica, commonly known as Indian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort, spadeleaf, coinwort or gotu kola is a herbaceous, perennial plant in the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is consumed as a culinary vegetable and is used in traditional medicine.
Centella grows in temperate and tropical swampy areas in many regions of the world. The stems are slender, creeping stolons, green to reddish-green in color, connecting plants to each other. It has long-stalked, green, rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles,[clarification needed] around 2 cm (0.79 in). The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are cream in color and covered with root hairs.
The flowers are white or crimson in color, born in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size, less than 3 mm (0.12 in), with five to six corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit. The crop matures in three months, and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually. It is a highly invasive plant, rated as “high risk”. Centella has numerous common names in its regions of distribution.
Germination Guide
🌍 Tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and islands in the western Pacific Ocean, particularly India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia
Moderate
Centella asiatica, commonly known as Gotu Kola or Indian Pennywort, is a creeping perennial herb from tropical Asia with centuries of use in traditional medicine. Seeds exhibit dormancy when freshly harvested but aged seeds (2-3 months old) show excellent germination rates of 82% under warm conditions. Germination is photoblastic, requiring light and warm, consistently moist conditions without needing cold stratification or seed scarification.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
14 – 56 days
Temperature
Min 20°C
Ideal 25°C
Max 30°C
Substrate moisture
💧💧 High
Seed Pre-treatment
-
💧
Soaking — 12 hours
Soak in room temperature water for 12 to 24 hours to soften seed coat and enhance germination
-
📋
Additional notes
Seeds 2-3 months old show 82% germination rate; freshly harvested seeds exhibit dormancy. Soaking in water and use of aged seeds improve germination success
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Well-draining seed-starting mix, coco coir blended with perlite, peat mixed with sand, or moist soil without covering
Recommended container
Transparent humidity dome, plastic wrap, or plastic bag to maintain moisture
Growing Tips
Use seeds that are at least 2-3 months old for significantly better germination rates (82%) versus freshly harvested seeds. Soak seeds 12-24 hours before planting. Sow on soil surface without burying; light is essential for germination. Maintain consistent moisture and warmth (70-80°F or 21-27°C). Germination is slow and uneven, occurring over 2-8 weeks, with earliest seeds sprouting around 2-4 weeks. Red and white light promote better germination than blue or far-red light; use grow lights or bright indirect light. Keep humidity high with a dome or plastic cover but ventilate daily to prevent mold. Avoid salt-containing water or fertilizers as seeds are extremely sensitive to salinity. Transplant seedlings once they develop true leaves. Young plants require warm, humid conditions with filtered light as they are sensitive to harsh direct sun.
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