Everything You Need to Know About Ringworm Bush — Care, Propagation & More
Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Akapulko — from seed to table.
What Can You Eat?
Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.
Young leaves can be eaten as vegetables when cooked (blanched to remove bitterness). Primarily used as medicinal plant rather than food crop. Leaf extract used in herbal soaps and shampoos.
Akapulko is one of the 10 DOH-approved herbal medicines in the Philippines. Crushed fresh leaves are the classic Filipino remedy for ringworm (buni), scabies, and fungal skin infections. Every lola knows this plant.
Germination Guide
From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.
Planting Instructions
Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.
Propagation Methods
Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.
Care Guide
Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.
Full sun
Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Minimal; grows vigorously without fertilizer
25-35°C
Tolerates high humidity
Prune regularly to control size; can grow 3-4 meters tall.
Harvest Guide
Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.
Harvest mature green leaves anytime. For maximum medicinal potency, harvest leaves in the morning.
Use fresh for poultice; dry leaves in shade for tea or powder.
Common Problems & Solutions
Spot issues early and fix them fast.
Overgrowth
Cause: Very vigorous grower
Solution: Prune hard regularly; can become invasive.
Leaf-eating caterpillars
Cause: Cassia caterpillar moth
Solution: Hand-pick; usually tolerable damage.
Self-seeding everywhere
Cause: Prolific seed production
Solution: Remove seed pods before they mature and scatter.
Perfect Plant Partners
Plants that grow well together.