Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet · ornatecinternational.com

Piper sarmentosum

Wild Betel

Piper sarmentosum, the Wild Betel or cha plu, spreads by low running stems into a glossy, heart-leaved carpet 0.3 to 0.6 metres deep. The leaves are aromatic and are used fresh across Thai, Lao and Vietnamese cooking, which gives the plant a second life in hotel and resort kitchen gardens.

As a landscape plant it does one job very well: it closes shaded ground under canopy quickly, and it keeps a clean, even, high-gloss surface while it does it.

Specifications

Height0.3 to 0.6 metres
Width0.6 to 1.5 metres, spreading by rooting runners
Native toSouth and South East Asia, including southern China and India
FoliageGlossy, heart-shaped, aromatic bright green leaves on jointed stems; evergreen
Growth rateFast

Conditions

SoilPrefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils
LightPartial shade to full shade; dislikes hot direct sun
WaterRegular; keep evenly moist through the warm season
ClimateThrives in humid tropical and subtropical regions

Additional Features

UsesShaded understorey ground cover, courtyard beds, tropical schemes and edible landscaping
SpacingPlant 0.4 to 0.5 metres apart for cover within a season
Low MaintenanceTrim at the edges to hold it inside the bed; cut over annually to refresh
Pest ResistanceGenerally straightforward in a shaded humid position
FormLow, spreading, evenly surfaced carpet of glossy foliage
Cultural SignificanceLeaves are widely used fresh in South East Asian cooking

Wild Betel is one of the quickest ways to put a clean glossy carpet across shaded ground in a tropical scheme.

Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.

Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com 310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia Prepared 09 September 2026