How to Grow Epazotes

Soil & Growing Conditions

Water: drought-tolerant once established; keep moist during germination (Gardener's Path)

Soil pH range

6.5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing	0	Soak seeds 24 hours, then sow indoors in early spring or direct outdoors at 70°F soil temperature, lightly pressed in with only a scant cover; germinates in 7-14 days (Gardener's Path).
Thinning	1	Thin seedlings to 6in apart; succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply (Gardener's Path).
Leaf growth	3	Grows quickly to 4ft tall by 18in wide; drought-tolerant once established, needing minimal care (Gardener's Path).
Harvest	8	First harvest at 55 days; cut or tear young leaves from the centre stem (Gardener's Path).

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	6.5 - 7.5
Soil texture	loose, organically rich, average to sandy soil (Gardener's Path)
Drainage	well-drained
Lifecycle	perennial in warm climates, grown as an annual elsewhere
Edible parts	leaves, stalks

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Harvest by cutting or tearing young leaves from the centre stem, beginning at 55 days after sowing; young leaves have a milder, richer flavour than older ones. Refrigerate wrapped in a damp paper towel for up to 3 weeks, or store upright in water; can also be air-dried hanging upside down for 7-10 days and kept in an airtight container (Gardener's Path). CRITICAL: use only in small quantities -- contains the toxin ascaridole.

Diseases

Lettuce mosaic virus

moderate

Gardener's Path names this directly: the plant acts as a host reservoir with no treatment available.

Tomato spotted wilt

moderate

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)

Gardener's Path names this directly: the plant acts as a host reservoir with no treatment available.

Pests

Thrips

moderate

Thysanoptera

Gardener's Path names this directly: thrips, treatable with insecticidal soap.

Epazote, Handle With Care

Seeds need light to germinate

Seeds are soaked 24 hours then sown with only a scant cover of soil, since they need light to germinate -- taking 7-14 days, faster with bottom heat.

What the research guides add

Epazote is a Mexican herb that NC State also classes as a weed, which tells you how easily it grows.

• An annual or short-lived perennial from the tropical Americas that grows 2 to 5 feet tall with many irregular side branches. (NC State Extension)
• It does best in full sun and moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil, but also grows in sandy and rocky soils of disturbed sites. (NC State Extension)
• It flowers from summer into fall, sets numerous seeds and readily reseeds. (NC State Extension)
• The leaves are used in Mexican dishes and are said to negate the gas-causing effects of beans; NC State cautions that the dose used medicinally to remove intestinal worms can be toxic. (NC State Extension)

Sources for this section

• NC State Extension: Dysphania ambrosioides (Plant Toolbox)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

1. Gardener's Path - How to Plant and Grow Epazote (Wormseed)

   A secondary gardening reference rather than a university or horticultural authority, used as the primary source as the RHS species page is a stub with no growing detail, explicitly disclosed. A culinary herb native to Mexico, Central and South America, growing to about 4ft tall with long, serrated leaves emitting a fairly strong, kerosene-like odour; small, pale yellow-greenish flowers. Also called Jesuit's tea, Mexican tea, wormseed. USDA zones 8-12 as a perennial, 4-12 grown as an annual (frost-tender). Full sun. Soil: loose, organically rich, average, sandy, well-draining; pH 5.2-8.3; extra fertiliser produces less flavourful leaves. Sow indoors in early spring or direct outdoors at 70°F soil temperature, seeds soaked 24 hours then lightly pressed in with scant cover; germinates in 7-14 days, faster with bottom heat; thin to 6in apart; succession sow every 2-3 weeks. Reaches 4ft tall by 18in wide, maturing to first harvest in 55 days. Harvest by cutting or tearing young leaves from the centre stem -- young leaves are milder yet richer in flavour than older ones. Pests: thrips, treatable with insecticidal soap. Diseases: lettuce mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus -- the plant acts as a host reservoir for these viruses with no treatment available; severe infections require plant removal. CRITICAL WARNING: contains ascaridole, a toxin -- overconsumption may cause deafness, vertigo, paralysis, incontinence, jaundice, sweating, and even death; use only in small quantities, and avoid entirely for young children and pregnant women.

2. Plants For A Future (PFAF) - Dysphania ambrosioides

   PFAF entry for Dysphania ambrosioides. Fetched and parsed directly for the USDA hardiness rating.

3. Useful Temperate Plants - Dysphania ambrosioides

   Mirrors FAO Ecocrop. Fetched and parsed directly for the numeric soil pH range.

4. Wikipedia - Ascaridole

   Chemistry article, cited to primary toxicology literature. Ascaridole is a peroxide monoterpene and is toxic, with a pungent, unpleasant smell and taste. It is the principal constituent of the essential oil of Dysphania ambrosioides (epazote), where it makes up to 70% of the oil. Corroborates the toxicity attribution used on the epazote record.

5. Wikipedia - Dysphania ambrosioides

   Species article, cited to toxicology and ethnobotany literature. Essential oil contains ascaridole as its primary compound, up to 70% of the composition. HUMANS HAVE DIED from overdoses of D. ambrosioides essential oil, attributed to the ascaridole content; poisoning symptoms include severe gastroenteritis with pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, temporary deafness, kidney and liver damage, convulsions and paralysis. Used as a leaf herb in traditional Mexican cooking in measured amounts, with leaves collected before the plant goes to seed. Ascaridole content is LOWER in epazote from Mexico than in epazote grown in Europe or Asia. Sometimes becomes an invasive weed in temperate regions, and ascaridole inhibits the growth of nearby species.

These 5 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 6 sources behind this guide (Gardener's Path, Plants For A Future (PFAF), Royal Horticultural Society and others) is in the references of our UK guide to epazote; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.