Combretum Indicum: Facts, how to grow, care tips and uses

If you are looking for a way to beautify your garden, consider planting Combretum Indicum. Also referred to as Rangoon creeper, this climber vine is widely renowned for its ornamental value as well as medicinal benefits. So, read on to learn more about how to grow and care for Combretum Indicum as well as its uses.

Table of Contents

What is Combretum Indicum?

Commonly known as Rangoon Creeper or Chinese Honeysuckle, the Combretum indicum vine grows up to 20 feet long. It is native to Asia but is found in many other parts of the world as an ornamental plant or wild growth. The hanging flower bunches resemble earrings, hence, the flower is also called jhumka bel. The stems have yellow hair with few spikes on the branches. The leaves are green or yellow-green, set in pairs opposite to each other and elliptical with a round base. They fall off in autumn to conserve water till the rainy season when new leaves emerge. Its flowers are fragrant with a sweet aroma. It has been cultivated in gardens as an easy-to-grow plant. The tube-shaped flowers open white at dusk, turn pink on the second day and red on the third, attracting birds, bees and other pollinators. This plant needs support for growing and is useful for covering fences and walls. Bloom time is February to May and August to November.

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See also: Campsis grandiflora: Everything about Chinese trumpet vine

Combretum Indicum: Key facts

Family name	Combretaceae
Synonyms	Quisqualis Indica
Genus	Combretum
Common names	Rangoon Creeper, Drunken Sailor, Akar Dani, Akar Suloh, Dani, Ara Dani, Akar Pontianak, Jhumka Bel, Red Jasmine, Madhumalti and Rangoon Vel
Sunlight preference	Full sun to partial shade
Plant habit	Climber vine
Life cycle	Perennial
Water preference	Moderate water
Native to	Southern Asia and tropical Africa
Soil type	Clay, loamy
Soil drainage	Moist but well-drained
Height	Up to 6 metres
Inflorescence	Drooping spikes
Flowers	White at the beginning, changing to orange, pink and red
Uses	Ornamental, medicinal
Medicinal benefits	The roots, seeds or fruits are used to treat diarrhoea. Fruit parts are used for gargling and leaves are used for pain relief caused by fever.

See Also: Jasminum Auriculatum: Evergreen Climber Plant

How to care for combretum Indicum?

Combretum Indicum is a sturdy, vigorously growing, profusely flowering, a perennial climber that does not need much care. The plant requires support to grow so keep it along a fence line, trellis or wall.

Combretum Indicum: Sunlight requirements

Combretum Indicum or Rangoon Creeper can thrive in both full sun and part shade. It is a tropical plant, thus, prefers full sun, which helps the flowers to bloom. However, it can also thrive in partial shade.

Combretum Indicum: Soil requirements

Combretum Indicum flourishes in well-drained sand, clay or loam soils. The soil pH must range from acidic to neutral. It should be well-drained and fertile and rich in organic content. Avoid using nitrogen-rich fertilisers during the flowering stage since it will promote foliage production rather than flower formation.

Combretum Indicum: Water requirements

Regular watering, full sun and afternoon shade will keep it thriving. Combretum Indicum needs moderate amounts of water. However, the frequency of watering changes with the climate. Water it less frequently in winter.

See also: Orange trumpet vine

Combretum Indicum: How to protect it?

There should be a proper drainage system. Water logging damages the root
Lack of sunlight will affect the leaves, which will turn yellow. Remove dead, infected or damaged parts.
Use neem oil, eucalyptus oil or citrus oil in case of insect attack or disease. Combretum Indicum Vine is a resilient plant in comparison to many other floral plants.

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Combretum Indicum: Propagation

There are two ways to propagate the Combretum Indicum – seeds and stem cuttings. For both methods, it is important to have a seedbed or plant pots with well-drained and loose soil in a warm area. Rooting hormones help the roots form faster.

Cut off a 2-3 inches long stem section. The stem should be hard and have several leaf nodes. Avoid cutting sections with flower buds. Keep the stem cutting in wet soil in the planting tray. Misting helps to provide a uniform amount of water to the cuttings. Place the tray under filtered light or partial shade. Avoid exposure to full sun while the plant is developing roots. They may be transplanted to areas under the full sun once the seedlings are sturdy. Check the cutting every two weeks and make sure that the leaves do not drop. If the leaves fall, they will not convert into roots. After the stem has developed roots, transfer it to the planting pot. It may take about a month to grow roots.

Read also: Climbers you can grow in your garden

Combretum Indicum: Pest and diseases

There are no serious disease or pest problems that commonly affect Combretum Indicum. Occasionally, these plants may be affected by issues like scale and caterpillar attacks. You can use neem oil, eucalyptus oil or citrus oil to keep the plant protected against such attacks and infestations.

Combretum Indicum: Uses

Combretum Indicum (Rangoon Creeper) is widely grown in homes as an ornamental plant. These plants create a lovely covering of dense foliage and a bloom of colour. The lush growth can form a separation or privacy screen and the green wall can be a beautiful overhead shade during the bloom season.
The long and flexible stems are used to make baskets and fish traps.
The fruits are edible and taste like almonds. Flowers are eaten in Thailand.
The root, leaves and fruits have medicinal properties and are used for treating various ailments.
The dried seeds of Rangoon Creeper are beneficial to treat intestinal worms and parasites. In the Philippines, the fruits of Combretum Indicum are consumed to treat cough and crushed fruits and seeds are externally applied to alleviate nephritis.
A decoction made from the leaves is prescribed for abdominal pain. In Vietnam, root extractions are used to treat rheumatism. In many places, a leaf decoction is used to bathe children with eczema. The fruit decoction is used for gargling. The leaves are used to relieve pain caused by fever and leaf juice can treat skin problems like boils and ulcers.

FAQs

Is Combretum Indicum poisonous?

In large doses, they cause nausea, vomiting and unconsciousness. The seed of the dried ripe fruit is used to reduce vomiting and roots are used in decoction for intestinal worm treatment. The seeds are used for diarrhoea treatment.

What is the common name of Combretum Indicum?

Madhumalti, Vel, Rangoon Creeper, Red Jasmine, Akar Dani and Drunken Sailor are a few common names of Combretum Indicum.

Can Combretum Indicum be grown indoors?

Combretum Indium is not an indoor plant but you can keep a dwarf variety in a place where it can get adequate sunlight. If growing in a pot, ensure that the potting soil is fast draining and has enough coco peat to retain the moisture. Add mulch on top of the soil to prevent excessive water evaporation.

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Purnima Goswami Sharma

Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.

Email: Purnimagoswami@gmail.com