King of Bitters Plant Care

King of Bitters (Andrographis paniculata) belongs to the Acanthaceae family within the Andrographis genus. King of Bitters is native to India and Sri Lanka. King of Bitters is also known as Green Chiretta, Kalmegh, Andrographis.

King of Bitters displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. King of Bitters produces small tubular flowers in shades of white, purple, or lavender.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted King of Bitters every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

King of Bitters thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing King of Bitters in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Andrographis paniculata tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. King of Bitters prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining, fertile soil with added perlite for improved drainage. Good drainage is essential for King of Bitters to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed King of Bitters every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light and well-draining, fertile soil with added perlite for improved drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

King of Bitters is suited to USDA Zone 10a – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

King of Bitters can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune King of Bitters while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

King of Bitters is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

King of Bitters can be propagated through stem cuttings, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to andrographis explicata plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

King of Bitters is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

King of Bitters grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10a – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10a. King of Bitters is native to India and Sri Lanka. In cooler regions, grow King of Bitters as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.