Plumbago

plant genus

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July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Plumbago is a genus of tropical herbs and shrubs belonging to the family Plumbaginaceae, also known as the leadwort family. These plants are primarily valued as garden ornamentals, featuring spikes of showy flowers.123

Some notable species include:
* Plumbago europaea, or common leadwort, which has lead-blue flowers and a sap that is irritating and caustic.13
* Plumbago zeylanica, known as doctorbush, whose roots and leaves have been used medicinally, particularly for skin diseases.3

The active compound extracted from Plumbago roots is a yellow pigment called plumbagin.3

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Caryophyllales
Plumbaginaceae
…are the juices of other Plumbago species—for example, whorled plantain, or scarlet leadwort (P. indica), grown for its rose or scarlet flowers. The leaves and roots of Ceylon leadwort, or doctorbush (P. zeylanica), have been used as a remedy for skin disease, especially in the tropical Far East. The active…
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…are the juices of other Plumbago species—for example, whorled plantain, or scarlet leadwort (P. indica), grown for its rose or scarlet flowers. The leaves and roots of Ceylon leadwort, or doctorbush (P. zeylanica), have been used as a remedy for skin disease, especially in the tropical Far East. The active…
Read More