What is a live kava plant?

A live kava plant is a living Piper methysticum, the tropical Pacific Islander pepper-family plant whose root has been prepared into the kava beverage across the Pacific for thousands of years. It is sold for home cultivation by plant enthusiasts and collectors.

Growing a kava plant

Kava is a tropical understory plant that needs consistent warmth, high humidity, and filtered (not harsh direct) light. It is not frost-hardy, so in most US climates it has to be grown indoors, in a greenhouse, or moved inside for the cooler months. Kava is propagated from cuttings rather than seed, and the root takes years to mature.

How we ship live plants

Live kava plants are carefully packed and shipped from our Portland shop. Because they are living plants, weather and transit time are taken into account, and plants ship separately from dried goods.

Live kava plant at a glance

Botanical name

Piper methysticum

Family

Piperaceae

Product type

Live plant for cultivation

Climate

Tropical; not frost-hardy (grow indoors in most of the US)