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Wikstroemia indica

bootlace plant

Thymelaeaceae Asia and the western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Wikstroemia indica is an evergreen shrub reaching 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) tall and 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) wide, with slender, flexible branches and tough, fibrous bark that resists breaking by hand. Leaves are opposite, oblong to elliptic, 0.5-2 inches (1.3-5 cm) long, thin-textured, dark green above and paler beneath. Small yellow-green tubular flowers about 0.3 inch (8 mm) long are borne in short terminal clusters and lack spreading petals, the colour coming from the tubular calyx. Flowering and fruiting continue over much of the year in warm climates. Flowers are followed by fleshy, egg-shaped fruit 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long that ripen orange-red to bright red. All parts contain daphnane-type diterpene compounds and are toxic to humans and pets if ingested, and the sap can irritate skin. The fibrous bark has been used to make cordage and rough string. The shrub establishes in disturbed ground and is recorded as an environmental weed in Hawaii and parts of eastern Australia.

Native Range

Native to a broad area of Asia and the western Pacific, from India and southern China through Southeast Asia to northern and eastern Australia and many Pacific islands. Grows in coastal scrub, forest margins, and disturbed ground from sea level to middle elevations. Naturalized and weedy in Hawaii and parts of eastern Australia.

Suggested Uses

Used occasionally as a low hedge or coastal screen in frost-free gardens, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart, though its weediness limits planting in many regions. The fibrous bark has been used traditionally for cordage and string. All parts are toxic if eaten, which restricts use where children or pets are present.

How to Identify

Recognized by slender branches with tough, fibrous bark that strips in long strands and resists breaking by hand. Opposite, thin oblong leaves 0.5-2 inches (1.3-5 cm) long pair with small yellow-green tubular flowers that lack spreading petals. Fleshy red fruit 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long help separate it from similar coastal shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 6'

Width/Spread2' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers and fruits through much of the year in frost-free climates, with peaks in spring and summer. In cooler parts of its range, flowering concentrates from spring to autumn. Flowers and ripe red fruit are often present on the plant at the same time.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-9 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

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade in a range of well-drained soils, including sandy and rocky coastal sites. Water during establishment; established plants tolerate dry periods and salt-laden wind. It grows on poor soils without supplementary feeding in most settings. Few pests trouble it. The shrub self-seeds where birds spread the fleshy fruit, forming naturalized stands in mild climates. All parts are toxic if eaten and the sap can irritate skin.

Pruning

Prune after the main flush of fruiting to control size and shape; the flexible stems tolerate regular trimming. Cut stems exude a sap that can irritate skin on contact. Plants reshoot from the woody base after hard pruning.

Pruning Schedule

fall