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Lobostemon fruticosus
Also called Eightday Healthbush, Pyjama, Pyjama Bush
A fynbos shrub from the Cape, grown for its pink-to-blue bell-shaped flowers and valued in traditional medicine. It needs well-drained soil and full sun, and is typically propagated from cuttings.
Lobostemon fruticosus, also known as the eightday healthbush or pyjamabush, is a species of medicinal plant endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is considered to be ecologically and economically important but is declining due to overexploitation.
Although the wild populations of this species seem to be declining, it remains a popular garden plant. This is the only Lobostemon species to be popularly grown as the others can be difficult and unpredictable. While it can be grown from seeds, these are usually difficult to get ahold of. Cuttings of resprouting, non-flowering stems in spring and autumn seem to work best for propagation, although this depends on the substrate that the plant is being planted in. Cuttings planted peat perform best in Autumn, while those planted in sand-polystyrene perform best in spring. The application of plant growth regulators further improve the chance of successful propagation. While many cultivated plants are available, wild plants still dominate the traditional medicine market.
This species is largely confined to the west of the Cape Fold Mountains, where it is found between Namaqualand and the Cape Peninsula. There are, however, also plants in Worcester. Plants are found on sandstone slopes or sandy or shale flats. It is common in Renosterveld due to its preference for shale-derived soils, but agricultural activities have largely confined the species to road verges.
This species is important in traditional medicine and was used by the KhoiKhoi, the settlers and the Malay people for a variety of conditions. It was mainly used to treat external wounds (including burns and ulcers) and skin conditions. This plant was also commonly used to treat blood poisoning and was at least occasionally to treat stomachaches. A tea made of the leaves of this species was also used as a cure for ringworm in both humans and other animals.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Lobostemon fruticosus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
