How to Plant Damiana

Damiana is a small, aromatic shrub that is traditionally grown in Mexico and Central America. Damiana has been used for thousands of years in traditional herbal medicines as a tonic for nerves and as an aphrodisiac. The herb is quite hardy and can tolerate a range of soils, with its one tender spot being frost. In areas with harsh winters, damiana should be grown as a container plant so that it can winter indoors.

Damiana seeds
Peat pots
Shovel
Compost or manure
Garden spade or hoe

Instructions

- 1
  Sow the damiana seeds 1/4-inch deep in peat pots. Moisten the peat with water and set in a sunny spot to germinate. Do this about six weeks before the last frost date in spring to ensure that the seedlings are ready for planting when warm weather arrives.
- 2
  Amend the outdoor planting soil with about 4 inches of compost or manure tilled into the top 8 to 10 inches with a garden hoe or space. Choose a position in the garden that receives six to 10 hours of sun daily. Amend the soil at the same time as you sow the damiana seeds so that it has time to "percolate" as the seedlings grow.
- 3
  Shovel out a hole sized for the peat pot and plant the damiana seedling. Covering the top of the root ball with soil but not the crown. Gently pat down the soil but not hard enough to crust over.
- 4
  Moisten the plant thoroughly with water after planting. Like many other herbs, damiana thrives on neglect, so don't over-water. If there are fairly regular rains, watering may not be necessary at all.
- 5
  Harvest the leaves and flowers in summer of the second year after planting. After drying, the leaves and flowers can be used as herbal tea or as linen fresheners slipped between sheets.

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