I am not too sure it's a thug in a mediterranean climate... I killed mine, underwatering.

It's a thug where I live, in the subtropics! I kept mine firmly contained in a pot, and then when I moved house it was one of the herbs I just had to get rid of it because of lack of space. But you know - that wretched stuff keeps popping up in unexpected places in my little garden! Keep it moist and in partial shade, although it will grow in full sun if kept moist. It will die off easily if allowed to dry out, but give it a drink and it will resurrect. I'd say your plants went into severe transplant shock.

It's pretty easy to grow. If I remember right it's not frost-hardy, so you may as well keep it in pots and overwinter indoors.

Oh, no! The dreaded transplant shock!

I didn't transplant them yet, but I'm wondering if the grower didn't just before sending them. I gave one of the plants to a friend with a green thumb, and he had the same problem. Then his housekeeper threw the pot out, thinking it was a lost cause.

Judging from the number of babies I'm now seeing, I will have to separate and transplant them sooner or later...and then here we go again??

If they thrive, I think I will keep them as houseplants, since we are planning to move to zone 6a soon.

If you want, you can buy some more from Richters, which also gives some info on culture.

I will be visiting a friend in NSW for a month from the US and would love to try Gotu Kola for my arthritis. Can somebody suggest a source?