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Phyllanthus urinaria

Chamberbitter

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Phyllanthus urinaria is an erect annual herb in the leaf-flower family, growing 8-24 in (20-60 cm) tall with a reddish, grooved main stem and slender horizontal branchlets. Along each branchlet, small oblong leaves 0.2-0.6 in (5-15 mm) long are set in two neat rows, giving the plant a fern-like outline; the leaves fold together at dusk. Tiny flowers and fruits form on the undersides of the branchlets rather than at the tips, which separates this genus from most other weeds. The fruits are stalkless, rounded capsules about 0.1 in (2-3 mm) wide with a warty, ridged surface, splitting to release seed. Flowering and fruiting continue through the warm season, and a single plant can produce thousands of seeds. The species sprouts in lawns, beds, nursery containers, and crop fields, favoring warm, moist, disturbed ground. It is native to tropical Asia and now grows as a weed across the southeastern United States and other warm regions. Because seedlings emerge over a long period and mature quickly, the plant re-establishes readily after removal. It resembles Phyllanthus tenellus, which has longer-stalked fruits and a smoother capsule.

Native Range

Phyllanthus urinaria is native to tropical Asia. It has spread widely as a weed and now grows through the southeastern United States, Central and South America, Africa, and Pacific islands, on disturbed, moist, warm ground.

Suggested Uses

Phyllanthus urinaria is not grown ornamentally and is treated as a weed of lawns, gardens, and crops. It has a long record of use in traditional Asian and tropical herbal medicine. Where it appears in cultivation it is managed for removal rather than display.

How to Identify

Phyllanthus urinaria is recognized by its two-ranked rows of small oblong leaves along horizontal branchlets, which fold shut at night and give a fern-like look. Minute flowers and warty, stalkless capsules sit in a row on the undersides of the branchlets. The reddish main stem and rough fruit surface separate it from Phyllanthus tenellus, which has smooth, longer-stalked fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering and fruiting run through the warm season, from late spring until frost in temperate areas and year-round in the tropics. The flowers are minute and green, easily overlooked beneath the leafy branchlets. Capsules ripen within weeks and split open to scatter seed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

green to reddish

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Phyllanthus urinaria grows in full sun to part shade on warm, moist soils and tolerates compacted and disturbed ground. As an annual it completes its cycle in a single season and needs no winter care, dying with the first frost. It germinates over a long window whenever soil is warm, so seedlings appear in flushes. The plant withstands poor fertility and brief drought but grows largest on rich, moist soil. It self-seeds heavily, and the prolific seed bank allows quick return after removal. Pulling plants before the capsules ripen limits further seeding.

Pruning

Pruning is not used for this annual weed. Removing plants by hand or hoe before the warty capsules mature reduces seeding into the soil. Spent plants die with frost and can be cleared at season's end.