The root beer plant grows wild from Mexico to northern South America and is cultivated for its culinary and herbal uses. It is also known as 'hoya santa' or 'holy leaf' in Mexico where it used in the preparation of tamales, mole verde and teas. The root beer plant has highly fragrant leaves that impart complex flavors including licorice, sassafras, mint, cloves, anise and black pepper.

The root beer plant is an upright shade-loving perennial that grows to around four to six feet in height and about four feet wide. The leaves are large and heart shaped and can grow to a foot in length.  This plant is useful in a shady tropical border but is not hardy in Chicago. It propagates by underground runners.

The primary compound that imparts the distinctive fragrance has been identified as a human carcinogen; culinary use should be avoided.