Indian Camphorweed
Pluchea indica
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Christmas I., Guam, Hainan, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Palau, Philippines, South China Sea, Taiwan, Thailand, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Vietnam, Yemen
Forest & Kim Starr (www.hear.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Pluchea
- Species:
- Pluchea indica
- USDA Symbol:
- PLIN4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots after fire or cutting damage.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- saline, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in coastal and mangrove areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm, moist conditions without pretreatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI