Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, is a tender perennial herb that is native to Paraguay and Brazil. Plants typically grow with weak and floppy stems. Plants have little ornamental attraction. The attraction here is the sweet tasting leaves which contain glucoside compounds that are 200-300 times sweeter by weight than cane sugar but with no calories. To date, the FDA has only approved limited use for this plant in the U.S. (Rebaudioside A approved as dietary supplement but stevia leaves are not approved as food additive), but its potential as a sugar-substitute is huge. Slender oblong leaves have a pronounced midrib. Tubular flowers are white with no fragrance. Harvest fresh leaves for use in teas. Eat leaves directly off the plant. Leaves may be dried and then saved in jars for future use. Dried leaves are generally sweeter than fresh leaves. Dried leaves may be ground up in a blender into stevia powder.