How to Grow and Use Guinea Hen Weed in Florida

Guinea hen weed grows wild across Florida and most people pull it out of their yard without knowing what they have. If you know it, you plant it on purpose. This is a resilient, low-maintenance plant with a long history of food and traditional use across the Caribbean and Central America.

This post covers what guinea hen weed is, how to grow anamu in Florida, and how people traditionally use it, with everything you need to get started.

What You Need to Grow Guinea Hen Weed

• Seeds or a division from an established plant
• Well-draining soil, sandy works fine
• Partial shade to full sun
• Consistent moisture, especially during establishment

Guinea hen weed, also called anamu or by its botanical name Petiveria alliacea, is a Florida native medicinal plant that grows in zones 9 through 11. It is a perennial shrub that comes back year after year once established, which makes it a natural fit for a food forest or medicinal garden.

How to Get Started Growing Anamu in Florida

Find Your Start

The easiest way to start is from a division or cutting from someone already growing it. Seeds are slower but work. You can sometimes find anamu at native plant sales or small nurseries that carry medicinal herbs. You may also find it growing wild in shaded spots near tree lines in Central and South Florida. Dig up a small section with roots intact and replant it.

Pick the Right Spot

Guinea hen weed does best in partial shade, though it will handle full sun with enough water. It naturally grows at the edge of tree canopy in the wild, so think of it as an understory plant. A spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade is close to ideal in the Florida summer heat.

Plant where you want it to stay. This is a perennial and you will not move it once it settles in. It pairs well with taller food forest plants like moringa or pigeon peas that can provide the light filtering it prefers.

Simple Care Routine

Water regularly for the first four to six weeks while roots establish. After that, guinea hen weed is low maintenance. It handles drought reasonably well once it is in the ground. No fertilizer regimen is required, though a light compost top dress twice a year keeps it productive. Trim it back if it gets leggy and it will bush out again quickly.

Guinea Hen Weed Uses: What People Do With It

Across the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South Florida, anamu has a long history of traditional use. Leaves and roots are used to make teas and decoctions, primarily for immune and inflammatory support. The plant has a strong, distinctive smell similar to garlic mixed with something sharper, which is part of how you identify it.

Some growers add small amounts of young leaves to soups and stews in the same way you would use other medicinal herbs. The leaves are quite potent, so a little goes a long way in the kitchen.

This plant is food and gardening first. If you are considering using guinea hen weed for any health condition, talk to your doctor before you start. Traditional use is not a substitute for medical advice.

For more on medicinal plants that pair well in a Florida yard, read the guide on how to grow a backyard food pharmacy and check out seven medicinal plants for your Florida yard.

You can also watch my Florida medicinal plant videos on YouTube for a closer look at what anamu looks like in the yard.

Key Takeaways

• Guinea hen weed is a perennial Florida native medicinal plant that grows back year after year.
• Plant in partial shade to full sun with well-draining soil. Establish with regular water, then it largely fends for itself.
• The strong garlic-like smell is one of the key identifiers when you are trying to confirm what you have.
• Talk to your doctor before using anamu for any health condition.

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