Calea Zacatechichi, also known as Calea ternifolia, is a flowering plant from the Daisy family. It is commonly found in its native habitat on exposed and disturbed hillsides in Mexico and Central America. The plant grows to be a small bush or shrub, and features small yellow-white flowers. It goes by the common names of Mexican Dream Herb and Bitter Grass (due to it's bitter tasting leaves). The word Zacatechichi is a Nahuatl word that means 'bitter'. Calea Zacatechichi is one of the plants that make up the Aztec Entheogenic Plant complex- the many plants that the ancient Aztec peoples viewed as sacred, and used within their religious ceremonies for divination and healing. The plant is revered for it's ability to induce powerful, vivid, memorable, and sometimes strangely prophetic dreams. The traditional native use is to smoke the dried leaf material in a cigarette prior to going to bed, or as a boiled tea. Those interested in the dreaming effects of this plant should note that there is variation in the strength of these effects, depending on the strain of the plant, and the concentration of active constituents within the plant. Calea Zacatechichi is an unique and interesting plant, perfect to add to any hobbyists garden! This is the bitter variety. Our plants have performed well in sandy soil with full sun.
