Gotu Kola is a perennial medicinal herb, long valued for its traditional uses. Notably, it grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for honeybees. As a member of the carrot family, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
90
Score Gotu Kola on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether gotu kola actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score gotu kola against your land's real conditions.
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What Gotu Kola is
Gotu Kola grows as a perennial and reaches around 8 inches at maturity. It blooms pink in summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting. Gotu Kola does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on consistently moist ground. It needs around 3,000 growing degree days to mature, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year)
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
90 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
3000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
0.7 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant gotu kola in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Gotu Kola prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Harvest at its peak
Harvest the part you grow gotu kola for — flower, leaf, or root — at its seasonal peak.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — gotu kola isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Gotu Kola offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Gotu Kola thrives
Whether gotu kola thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Gotu Kola will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether gotu kola actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Gotu Kola in my zone?
Zone data for gotu kola is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
How long does Gotu Kola take to grow?
Gotu Kola is ready to harvest about 90 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Gotu Kola?
Most growers plant gotu kola after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Gotu Kola need?
Gotu Kola does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Gotu Kola need?
Gotu Kola prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on consistently moist ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Gotu Kola attract pollinators?
Yes — gotu kola's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Gotu Kola safe for pets?
Gotu Kola is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.