Plant Details

Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Sweet tea pea

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Common names

34 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • amachazuru[1]
  • dungkulcha[1]
  • five-leaf ginseng[1]
+14 more namesShow fewer names
  • giao-co-lam tea[1]
  • herb of immortality[1]
  • immortal grass[1]
  • immortality herb[1]
  • jiao gu lan[1]
  • jiaogulan[1]
  • miracle grass[1]
  • penta tea[1]
  • poor man's ginseng[1]
  • southern ginseng[1]
  • Sweet tea pea
  • sweet tea vine[1]
  • twisting-vine orchid[1]
  • xiancao[1]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Jiaogulan
  • Onsterfelijkheidskruid
French
  • Jiaogulan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • gynostema pětilistá[1]
Finnish
  • sormirypälekurkku[1]
Japanese
  • アマチャヅル[1]
  • 甘茶蔓[1]
Korean
Portuguese
  • cipó-doce[1]
  • erva-da-imortalidade[1]
  • erva-milagrosa[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • jinsém-do-sul[1]
Russian
  • Гиностемма пятилистная[1]
Slovak
  • gynostema päťlístková[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Gynostemma pentaphyllum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • アマチャヅル — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • 甘茶蔓 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • 絞股藍 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • gynostema pětilistá — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • 七葉膽 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • Гиностемма пятилистная — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • 绞股蓝 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • 돌외 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • southern ginseng — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • jinsém-do-sul — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • cipó-doce — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • erva-da-imortalidade — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • erva-milagrosa — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • sormirypälekurkku — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • gynostema päťlístková — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • jiaogulan — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • jiao gu lan — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • immortality herb — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • amachazuru — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • dungkulcha — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • five-leaf ginseng — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • giao-co-lam tea — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • herb of immortality — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • immortal grass — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • miracle grass — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • penta tea — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • poor man's ginseng — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • sweet tea vine — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • twisting-vine orchid — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
  • xiancao — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 550198; Gynostemma pentaphyllum.

General information

Scientific name: Gynostemma pentaphyllum
Accepted name (Kew): Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Cucurbitaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Gynostemma (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet tea pea
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(4)
Functions:
Cosmetic use

Description

Leaves and young stems can be boiled and have a sweet flavor. They are used for making tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 15/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 809794; name ID 2836451; Gynostemma Blume. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 809818; name ID 2836473; Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Gynostemma pentaphyllum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 307277, ID 3HWXM: Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (accepted).

    Source checked on .