About
Andrographis is the famously bitter leafy herb of Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine—tastes like punishment, marketed like redemption. Upright stems, simple leaves, and small white-to-lilac flowers with dramatic eyelashes on the petals. Grow as a fast warm-season annual or push as a tender perennial in protected 10a microclimates. It loves heat the way tourists love air conditioning. ☀️💧 Sun and Water Requirements: Full sun to bright part shade. Steady moisture, fertile but well-drained soil; wilts theatrically when dry, recovers if you are quick. ✂️ Propagation: Easy from seed; also cuttings in warm weather. Self-sows lightly where winters are mild—watch volunteers. 🌾 Harvest / Best Use Timing: Harvest leafy tops for tea and extracts before heavy flowering if you want leaf over stem fiber; timing follows your medicinal use plan.
Permaculture Functions
- Medicinal: Bitter tonic herb for teas and extracts (do your own homework on dosing).
- Pollinator: Small flowers supply pollinator support during bloom.
- Ornamental: Upright stems and lilac-tinged flowers read as a vertical accent in medicinal beds.
Practitioner Notes
- Bitterness concentrates in leaf—harvest before heavy flowering if tea is the goal, not stem fiber.
- Wilting in midday heat often rebounds by evening; true drought stress shows morning limp.
- Tiny seeds need surface sow and steady moisture—drying the tray for one afternoon kills germination flat.
Companion Planting
- Basil
- Lemongrass
- Epazote
- Cold wet soil at germination
- Deep shade that reduces vigor
Pest Pressure