Gotu Kola Plant, Centella Asiatica, Medicinal Herb

Gotu Kola – The Longevity Herb 🌿

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs you can grow. Known as the “herb of long life,” it has been treasured in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for thousands of years for its powerful healing and rejuvenating qualities.

Why Grow Gotu Kola?

This little green gem supports brain health, memory, and focus, helps with wound healing and skin repair, and is believed to uplift mood and ease mild depression. In traditional Chinese medicine, Gotu Kola is considered a Shen tonic—a plant that nourishes your spirit and promotes calm and clarity.

Note: Gotu Kola is known as an emmenagogue and should not be taken during pregnancy.

Growing Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is a semi-aquatic perennial herb that loves moist, shady spots in the garden. It wants boggy conditions.

If you prefer pots, Gotu Kola does brilliantly in a container with a saucer underneath to hold a little water. It even survives cooler climates—mine has powered through frosty Katoomba winters and even a heavy snowfall!

How It Fits in Your Garden

Gotu Kola makes a wonderful addition to any food forest, herb spiral, or healing garden. Its bright green leaves create a soothing groundcover that looks beautiful alongside moisture-loving herbs like mint or lemon balm. It’s both useful and decorative—the kind of plant that makes your garden feel alive and abundant.

Australian Varieties

I believe there are two varieties of Gotu Kola in Australia: one that grows wild with jagged leaves, and another with larger, rounder leaves—this is the one we offer. Both are used traditionally for the same purposes.

Plant Details

• Botanical name: Centella asiatica
• Size: Sold in a 40 mm pot
• Type: Perennial edible and medicinal herb
• Light: Partial to full shade
• Water: Keep moist; enjoys damp soil
• Climate: Subtropical to temperate – hardy in Port Stephens and the Hunter Region

Buy Online or in our nursery:

We grow our Gotu Kola plants right here in Port Stephens, NSW, and ship them across Australia. You can also pick up your plants directly from our small local nursery if you’re nearby. Perfect for anyone interested in permaculture, organic gardening, herbal medicine, or edible landscaping.