Maca Plant Care

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Lepidium genus. Maca is native to South America in the high Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia. Maca is also known as Peruvian ginseng, Peruvian maca.

Maca displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Maca produces small white or pink clustered blooms.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Maca every 4–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Maca thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Lepidium meyenii tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Maca prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Maca to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Maca every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Maca is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Maca can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Maca while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Maca is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Maca can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to field pepperweed plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Maca is susceptible to aphids, flea beetles, cabbage worms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Maca grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Maca is native to South America in the high Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia. In cooler regions, grow Maca as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.