Wild Leadwort

Plumbago zeylanica

Also known as: Doctorbush

Native to:
Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Christmas I., Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Somalia, South Africa, Southwest Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Tubuai Is., Turks-Caico

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Plumbaginaceae
Genus:
Plumbago
Species:
Plumbago zeylanica
USDA Symbol:
PLZE

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Vine
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
Bloom Colors:
white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
thrives in organic-rich soil

Where to Buy

Nationwide Seller