Outsidepride Stevia Sweetleaf Natural Sugar Substitute - 100 Seeds Stevia Sweetleaf is an excellent plant to add to your herb garden to grow as a perennial in USDA Zones 9 - 10 or indoors. This 24 inch perennial plant is often used as a natural sugar substitute. Leaves can be directly applied in hot drinks or made into tea. 3 table spoons fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon powder equals 1 cup of sugar. The stevia herb can sweeten any drink with no calories, no carbohydrates, no tooth decay and is diabetic safe. Stevia grows on most soils from herb seed, but prefers a sandy loam or loam, high in organic matter. Sow 10 seeds to get a nice full plant in your herb garden.