Basanga
Justicia adhatoda
Medicinal Plants Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Justicia adhatoda (syn. Adhatoda vasica — Malabar nut or ‘Basanga’ in Odia, also called Vasaka) is a shrub of the Acanthaceae family. The plant is one of the most important Ayurvedic herbs for respiratory complaints — leaves contain vasicine (bronchodilator) used in cough syrups. The plant is naturally found in waste lands.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun
💧
Water
Regular; moderately drought-tolerant
💨
Humidity
Moderate
🌡️
Temperature
15-38°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining loam
🧪
Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian Subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 m
- 📐 Spread
- 4-6 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot, caterpillar defoliation
💡 Care tips
- Plant in well-draining soil with appropriate light. Tolerates Indian tropical conditions.
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One click — added instantly. Watering every 7 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
