Patchouli is cultivated as a bushy herb, with erect stems.

It is native to tropical regions of Asia and is now extensively cultivated in China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South America and the Caribbean. 

In India, Patchouli it is cultivated in the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and West Bengal. 

• Kingdom:  Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Lamiales
• Family:  Lamiaceae
• Genus: Pogostemon
• Species: cablin

Leaves are the most economically important part of Patchouli and are used for the extraction of oil

Patchouli is a tropical crop which can also be cultivated under sub- tropical conditions. 

Patchouli grows successfully up to an altitude of 800-1000m

It prefers a warm and humid climate. 

Patchouli can be grown successfully under a fairly heavy and evenly distributed rainfall, ranging from 150-300 cm per annum.  

It requires deep, well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic, deep loamy soil, rich in humus and nutrients. 

It flourishes best in loose deep loamy soils, rich in organic matter which makes a loose friable texture.

The pH of the soil should range from 5.5 to 7.5 for good growth. 

• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Pyralids, Yellow Scale and Grass Webworm Moth.
    
  • Major Diseases: Leaf Blight, Brown Spot, Wilt Disease and Root Rot.
• Abiotic Causes:
  • Browning
  • Leaf fall