Fruitopia Nursery
Betel Leaf
Betel Leaf
Couldn't load pickup availability
The betel (Piper betle) is a vine of the family Piperaceae, which includes pepper and kava. The betel plant is native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel plants are cutlivated for their leaves which is most commonly used as flavoring in chewing areca nut (betel nut chewing).
BOTANICAL NAME: Piper sarmentosum
COMMON NAMES: wild pepper, kadok, bai cha plu,cha plu, bai som phou, sirih dudu, daun kaduk, betel pepper, la lot
FAMILY: Piperaceae
ORIGIN: Thailand and Vietnam
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Betel leaf is a completely different plant to Betel pepper Piper betle, which is chewed with betel nut. It is an evergreen, perennial creeper to 90 cm. It has shiny heart-shaped leaves with small white flower spikes. It prefers a rich, well-drained soil with partial shade. It likes to be kept moist but does not tolerate waterlogging. Frost will damage the leaves but not kill the plant once it is well established. It makes a good groundcover under trees in subtropical and tropical areas. It grows vigorously in the right position and because of its habit of suckering can be difficult to remove. It can be grown successfully in colder areas in a hanging basket or large pot and moved to a warm, sheltered position in winter.
USES
The spicy leaves are popular in south east Asian cooking, being used raw and cooked. To eat raw in a salad or use as a wrapping the young tender leaves are best. In Thailand, these wraps are a favourite snack, 'mieng kum', using an assortment of fillings, like peanuts, shrimps, shallots with lime and raw ginger. Soaking the leaves in cold water with a little sugar for 2 hours before use subtly alters the flavour. As the leaves are very attractive, they are often used as a base to line platters, with foods arranged on top. The white flower spikes develop into a small fruit that can be eaten. Betel leaf has many traditional medicinal uses.
PLANTING DETAILS
Recommended Planting Time: It is easy to propagate from cuttings at hot times of the year.
How to care for your fruit tree
How to care for your fruit tree
When you receive your fruit trees please unpackage them as soon as possible and give them some water. It is normal for some of the fruit trees to wilt slightly in transit but they will revive quickly with care. Please water your trees everyday.
Planting Instructions:
In a pot: If you are planting your fruit tree in a pot long term we recommend using a 3-50 litre pot . Use premim potting mix or rich garden soil, place a saucer under the pot and grass clippings or mulch around the tree to help the tree retain moisture. Water every 1-2 days continually.
In the ground: Dig a hole 2 times larger than the size of the pot or bag the tree is currently in. Squeeze the pot to loosen the root system before planting. Water well and add mulch or grass clipping around the tree. Water daily for the first year and then after that the tree should be able to sourse its own water through its root system, but continue to observe the tree and water if necessary.
Wait 1 month after planting before fertilising to avoid burning the roots.
Special care instructions for lychee, avocado and bananas, please see the product description for each tree.
Fertiliser: Fertilise your trees once a year in springtime following the correct instructions on the packet.
Pruning: Pruning your tree ecourages new gowth and a bushier growth habit. At the end of summer we recommend pruning the tips of the tree branches by 2-3cms or you can prune the tree to a desired shape.
If you have any care questions please give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.
Shipping
Shipping
Shipping Costs:
Brisbane and Gold Coast Metro Suburbs: Free Shipping
Other Areas QLD: Shipping costs may apply based on your location and the number of trees purchased. If there are any additional shipping fees you will be contacted after you purchase and given the option of a refund if you desire.
Other Areas: NSW, ACT, VIC and SA. $30 per order or free shipping if you buy 4 or more trees.
Please allow 7-10 business days for your order to be packed and sent.
If you find a tree you would like to purchase we recommend doing so promptly as often our stock sells out shortly after being listed and then wont be available again until our next re-stock.
Our maximum box size is 1.06m. Some trees may need to be trimmed to fit into the packaging, this does not damage the tree, it encourages the tree to grow new branches and become bushier.
You may not be sent the exact tree pictures on the website but it I’ll be very similar in size and height. All of our trees are grown outside in the sun, so they are fully accustomed to Queensland weather conditions. Due to that, the trees may have minor leaf imperfections from the sun, but the overall health of the trees is superb.
Orders are shipped by courier and usually take 1-3 business days if you are in Brisbane or the Gold Coast and other Metro areas or up to 3 weeks for other locations. Plants are packaged carefully with water in the packaging.
Please follow all care instructions for your tree/s as outlined on the website in the product description of each tree. MOST IMPORTANT IS WATERING YOUR TREE EVERYDAY (preferably in the morning).
If there are any issues when your package arrives please contact us via email at info@fruitopianursery.com.au for a promt reply.
Return policy
Return policy
At Fruitopia Nursery we love plants and we want you to love your plants too, so if there are any issues with your purchase, we’re here to help. Please carefully follow all care instructions for your new plants, paying particular attention to their watering requirements.
If you are unhappy with your purchase in anyway please contact us by email and we will do our very best to resolve the situation.
Depending on the problem we will be happy to offer a refund, partial refund or exchange at our sole discretion.
If your goods are damaged on arrival, please take a photo and contact us immediately via email so that we can follow up the matter with the delivery company.
Please do not post plants back without first contacting us via email info@fruitopianursery.com.au
