Common Name: Cape Leadwort
Botanical Name: Plumbago auriculata
Plumbago auriculata, commonly called Cape Leadwort or Plumbago, is known for its lovely blue flowers and is native to South Africa. It’s a versatile plant used extensively in landscaping due to its ability to form dense hedges and its profuse blooms.
Medicinally, Cape Leadwort has been used traditionally to treat warts and broken bones. Its sap contains an irritant that can be used to create a blistering effect, similar to the use of cantharidin.
In beauty, its vibrant blue flowers make it a popular choice for natural dyes, but it is less common in skincare due to the irritant properties of its sap.
An interesting fact about Cape Leadwort is that despite its beauty, the plant’s sap must be handled with care as it can cause skin irritation, underscoring the dual nature of many medicinal plants.
