Doctorbush

(Plumbago zeylanica)

Doctorbush (Plumbago zeylanica)

Bernard Loison

CC BY-SA 2.5

Image By: Bernard Loison

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Bernard Loison | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.5 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 | Uploader: Epibase | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Plumbago_zeylanica1MTFL.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|1=''[[Poa bulbosa]]'' from Sheri Hagwood. Bureau of Land Management. United States, ID, Bureau of Land Management Jarbidge Resource Area. June 30, 2006. }} |Source=http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=pobu_008_avp |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Doctorbush, is an evergreen perennial that can take the form of a subshrub, shrub, or vine, depending on its growing conditions. It is native to a variety of habitats including tropical forests, woodland edges, and scrub areas across the global tropics and subtropics. Typically, it reaches a height of 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) with a similar spread. Doctorbush features heterostylous flowers, meaning it has different flower morphs with styles of varying lengths, which are white with corollas measuring 17–33 mm in diameter and tubes 12.5–28 mm in length. The flowering season extends through the warmer months, and the flowers are moderately showy, attracting pollinators. The plant produces capsules that are 7.5–8 mm long, containing reddish-brown to dark brown seeds.

Doctorbush is valued for its medicinal properties and is used in traditional medicine. It is also appreciated for its ease of maintenance and drought tolerance, making it suitable for xeriscaping. In cultivation, it is often used in borders, as ground cover, or allowed to climb as a vine in tropical and subtropical gardens. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers soils with medium drainage. While it has low to medium water requirements, it benefits from regular watering during prolonged dry periods. There are no major disease problems, but it can be susceptible to mealybugs and spider mites under stress. It is important to note that Plumbago zeylanica can become invasive in certain regions outside its native range, so gardeners should monitor its growth and spread.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrubs
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 3-8 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to tropical forests, woodland edges, and scrub areas in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa

Other Names

Common Names: Wild Leadwort , Plumbago , Ceylon Leadwort , Wild Plumbago , Vit Blyblomma , Bai Hua Dan , Higuillo , Meladillo Silvestre , White Plumbago

Scientific Names: Plumbago scandens , Plumbago zeylanica , Plumbago mexicana , Plumbago juncea , Plumbago occidentalis , Plumbago viscosa , Findlaya alba , Molubda scandens , Plumbagidium scandens , Plumbago americana

GBIF Accepted Name: Plumbago zeylanica L.