The heavy and strong scent of patchouli has been used for centuries in perfumes and, more recently, in incense, insect repellents, and alternative medicines. If the plant withers due to lack of water, it will recover well and quickly after rain or watering. [5], Patchouli is used widely in modern perfumery,[10] by individuals who create their own scents [11] and in modern scented industrial products such as paper towels, laundry detergents and air fresheners. Cuttings from the mother plant can also be rooted in water to produce additional plants. The word derives from the Tamil patchai (Tamil: பச்சை) (green), ellai (Tamil: இலை) (leaf). In some cultures, patchouli leaves are eaten as a vegetable or used as a seasoning. Both patchouli oil and incense underwent a surge in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in the US and Europe, mainly as a result of the hippie movement of those decades.[14]. [12] More specifically, the patchouli plant is claimed to be a potent repellent against the Formosan subterranean termite. In 1985 Mattel used patchouli oil in the plastic used to produce the action figure Stinkor in the Masters of the Universe line of toys. [15], "Extraction of Patchouli Essential Oil by Steam Distillation Process", "Solubility of the sesquiterpene alcohol patchoulol in supercritical carbon dioxide", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patchouli&oldid=987414342, Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 November 2020, at 21:54. Leaves may be harvested several times a year and, when dried, may be exported for distillation. Pogostemon cablin, P. commosum, P. hortensis, P. heyneasus and P. plectranthoides are all cultivated for their essential oil, known as patchouli oil. No, Difficulties or problems when growing: Can cause skin problems, Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing, Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water, Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade, Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? It thrives in hot weather but not direct sunlight. Patchouli[note 1] (/pəˈtʃuːli/; Pogostemon cablin), from Tamil paccuḷi,[1] is a species of plant from the family Lamiaceae, commonly called the "mint" or "deadnettle" family. Step 1 Choose a container at least 12 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep that will hold a plant that could grow more than 1 foot high and 3 feet wide. The plant grows as a bushy perennial herb, with erect stems reaching around 75 centimetres (2.5 ft) in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers. After the plant established can trim freely, Information about leaves: Green in elliptic shape the edge serrated, Uses of Patchouli plant leaves: Beverage, salad, Planting Season: Autumn Planting, Spring Planting, Summer planting, Light exposure requirements: Full sun Plants, Part shade Plants, Climates that the plant can grow: Mediterranean Climate, Subtropics Climate, Tropics Climate, Growing speed of the plant: Average growing plants, Plant life-form: Evergreen, Herbaceous, Perennial plant, Shrub, Plant Uses: Edible plants, Fragrance, Ornamental plants, Requirements for watering the plant: Big amount of water, Regularly water, Ornamental parts: Ornamental flower, Ornamental leaves, Ornamental plant, Flower colors: Pink flower, Purple flower, Harvest Season: Autumn Harvest, Spring Harvest, Summer Harvest, Winter harvest. Adding organic material may improve poor soil and weak drainage. What is the best way to start growing? Flower fragrant in color pink-purple the flowers small and grow on spike in inflorescence. [11], One study suggests that patchouli oil may serve as an all-purpose insect repellent. Some sources say the highest quality oil is produced from fresh leaves distilled close to where they are harvested;[4] others that boiling the dried leaves and fermenting them for a period of time is best. [13], Patchouli is an important ingredient in East Asian incense. In Kannada it is known as Pachhethene. Patchouli grows well in warm to tropical climates. Patchouli , from Tamil paccuḷi, is a species of plant from the family Lamiaceae, commonly called the "mint" or "deadnettle" family. The main chemical component of patchouli oil is patchoulol, a sesquiterpene alcohol. It is native to tropical regions of Asia[citation needed], and is now extensively cultivated in China, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Taiwan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South America and the Caribbean. [2] In Assamese it is known as xukloti. Patchouli leaves have been used to make a herbal tea. Tropical patchouli is sensitive to cold temperatures, which makes this plant a prime candidate for growing in a container filled with lightweight potting mix. Patchouli herb plant thrives in a soil pH of between 5.5 and 6.2. You can enjoy all the benefits of this herb by growing your own patchouli plants indoors. This herb is conducive to container growth, or you can plant it directly into the garden. When growing patchouli outdoors, place a 2″ to 4″ inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant at the start of spring. The seed-producing flowers are very fragrant and blossom in late fall. The mulch layer protects the roots of the plant during extremely hot days and limits weed growth. Choose an 8- to 12-inch-diameter pot with drainage holes that will give the plant room to grow about 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide. It is native to tropical regions of Asia , and is now extensively cultivated in China, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Taiwan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South A… Plant patchouli in normal potting mix with good drainage. The plant grows as a bushy perennial herb, with erect stems reaching around 75 centimetres (2.5 ft) in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers. Patchouli likes a warm, damp climate in fertile, well-draining soil in an area of full to partial sun exposure. The tiny seeds may be harvested for planting, but they are very delicate and easily crushed. Two important components of its essential oil are patchoulol and norpatchoulenol. Patchouli plant grow and care – herbaceous shrub‎ of the genus Pogostemon also known as Pogostemon cablin or Pachouli, Patchouli plant perennial evergreen plant also used as fragrant ornamental plant, can grow in tropic, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10+. No, Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, General information about the flower Fragrant flowers in color pink-purple the flowers small and grow on spike in inflorescence, Uses of Patchouli plant flower: Oil, fragrant, soap, How to harvest the leaves? Patchouli plant grow and care – herbaceous shrub‎ of the genus Pogostemon also known as Pogostemon cablin or Pachouli, Patchouli plant perennial evergreen plant also used as fragrant ornamental plant, can grow in tropic, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10+.. Leaves edible in color green in elliptic shape the edge serrated. Extraction of patchouli's essential oil is by steam distillation of the dried leaves,[3] requiring rupture of its cell walls by steam scalding, light fermentation, or drying. Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction, Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? Leaves edible in color green in elliptic shape the edge serrated.