Red Spiderling
Boerhavia diffusa
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Aldabra, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Desventurados Is., Djibouti, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Mali, Maluku, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Mozambique Channel Is., Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Nigeria, Ogasawara-shoto, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Solomon Is., Somalia, South Africa, South Chi
Vinayaraj
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Nyctaginaceae
- Genus:
- Boerhavia
- Species:
- Boerhavia diffusa
- USDA Symbol:
- BODI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white, red
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in disturbed areas and roadsides
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm temperatures above 20°C. No special treatment required, though fresh seeds germinate better than stored seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI