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, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, 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., 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-Caicos Is., Uganda, United States, Venezuelan
Bernard Loison
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:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots following fire or cutting; commonly found in fire-prone tropical and subtropical habitats.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions without pretreatment. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI