Common Name: Plumbago

General Information

Plumbago is a perennial plant with more or less woody stems and evergreen foliage; it can grow up to 2 metres tall, occasionally to 3 metres. The stems are diffusely branched, they can be erect, trailing or climbing[, ].
The plant is used in traditional medicine and also as the source of a dye. It is widely grown in gardens throughout the tropics as an ornamental and as a hedge or live fence; in temperate regions it is grown as a pot plant or greenhouse plant. Several cultivars with flowers in different shades of blue exist, as well as a white cultivar[].

Known Hazards

Poultry and sheep readily eat the leaves, but poisoning has been recorded[].
Traditionally, the plant is rubbed into scarifications in the body as a treatment for various health conditions. This treatment is not without danger - death by irritation has been recorded when the plant has been rubbed into large areas[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - south Africa.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Butterflies
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plumbago is a native of the subtropics, in S. Africa, but is widely cultivated as an ornamental in both the subtropics and the tropics[]. It grows best in regions with a pronounced dry season. It can withstand some frost; even if killed to the ground, it usually recovers quickly[].
Grows best in a very sunny position, but tolerate light shade[, , ]. Tolerant of various soils, it prefers fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy soils[, ]. Plants are drought resistant once established[]. The plant is salt tolerant[].
Plumbago is fast-growing and spreas rapidly - it will scramble into trees if allowed and, depending on the size and style of your garden, you may need to control it. It is very useful in large gardens and landscapes as it forms suckers and will cover fairly big areas[].
Plumbago auriculata flowers all year round, except if the temperature drops below 10°c. The flowers attract large numbers of butterflies[].
There are sticky, gland tipped hairs on the flower calyx. The seed capsule retains the stickiness which presumably helps disperse the seed by attaching to animals. The top of the capsule splits opens and drops the seed out[].
Periodic heavy pruning and bright sunlight induce prolific flowering[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the aerial parts or roots is taken to treat blackwater fever[].

A root infusion is taken as an emetic. The powdered root is used as snuff to relieve headache[].
The powdered root is put on warts to make them disappear[, ]. The powdered, roasted root is rubbed into scarifications over fractures to promote healing, and is rubbed on the body to cure stitch[]. These treatments are not without danger if the plant is rubbed into large areas, as death by irritation has been recorded[]. The root extract also acts as a styptic in scrofula[].

All parts of Plumbago contain the naphthoquinone plumbagin ( 2-methyl juglone), which blisters the skin.
Plumbagin possesses a variety of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, cardiotonic and antifertility actions[].
Plumbago auriculata contains an antifungal protein that inhibits spore germination in Macrophomina phaseolina[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plumbago is grown in gardens throughout the tropics as an ornamental and as a hedge or live fence[]. The plant responds very well to pruning and so is often trained to form low hedges or borders and sometimes trained as a climber on arches[, ].

Other Uses

In East Africa the flowers and leaves of Plumbago are used as a dye for textiles: beige, lemon, yellow (if combined with alum) or gold (if combined with chrome)[]. Plumbagin is also a yellow pigment, occurring in a colourless combined form in the plant and is liberated by acid treatment[].
The sap of the roots is grey-blue, and is used for tattoos[].

The plant has insecticidal properties as an antifeedant and as a moulting inhibitor[].

Children often make 'earrings' with the sticky flowers - letting them stick to their earlobes[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in a light soil and keep the soil moist, but not wet[].
Division of older plants[].
Rooted suckers[].
Semi-ripe cuttings[].

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