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Grown mainly for its large aromatic heart-shaped tropical foliage that produce a strong root beer-like fragrance when crushed along with contrasting narrow creamy white arching 'flowers' in the form of a 'spadix'. The Rootbeer Tree, Piper auritum, is a vigorous, naturally evergreen, shrub-like herbaceous tropical that can be grown as a die-back perennial into zone 8. In the garden and landscape it can spread aggressively and invasively, like some mints, via fleshy white underground rhizomes and can be difficult to eradicate once well established. It is generally easiest to contain when grown as a container plant that is not in contact with soil below it. The Rootbeer Tree is widely used as an herb in Meso-American cultures like Oaxacan. It can be used fresh or dried to flavor soups, eggs, drinks and is an essential ingredient in Mole Verde. Item# 789