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Rubia (Rubia)
Rubia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It contains around 80 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and subshrubs native to the Old World. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Key Facts About Rubia
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Attributes of Rubia
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Rubia
Distribution of Rubia
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Distribution Map of Rubia
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Rubia
Feedback
The rubia genus comprises perennial climbing plants famed for their attractive foliage and utility in traditional medicine and dye production. Their basic care involves bright, indirect sunlight, well-draining soil, and regular watering, while avoiding waterlogging. The rubia plants pose a low challenge for caretakers with occasional issues related to aphids and powdery mildew. Seasonal care includes reducing water in winter and regular pruning before spring, as they can become invasive. With careful attention, rubia can be a resilient and rewarding addition to any garden.
Exploring the Rubia Plants
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8 most common species：
Wild madder
Wild madder (Rubia peregrina) is a member of the coffee family and is native to Mediterranean Europe and Africa. It produces greenish-yellow flowers that are insect-pollinated; these flowers then mature into green berries that eventually ripen to black. The genus name “Rubia” is Latin for red, a reference to the fact that some species (notably Rubia tinctorum) have been used to create red dyes.
Indian madder
Rubia cordifolia is a flowering plant commonly known as indian madder. It is native to Asia, Africa, and Europe, growing wild at forest edges and cultivated for the red pigment in the roots. This is used to create a traditional dye for high-quality textiles. It is also a food plant for some butterflies and moths.
Indian madder
Indian madder is a herbaceous perennial known for its climbing habit. With large, heart-shaped leaves and small yellowish flowers, it thrives in forest undergrowths, twining around other plants for support. The signature reddish roots of indian madder are prominent in traditional dying processes and medicine, hinting at its ecological adaptability and utility.
Dyer's madder
Dyer's madder has historically been used to make a vibrant red dye. It has also been used to polish metal work. Dyer's madder is an evergreen popular food source for butterfly larvae. It has a climbing habit and is cultivated into flower beds. This perennial is naturally found in disturbed areas and hedges.
Erect asian madder
Known for its vibrant red flowers, erect asian madder is a remarkable plant that is sure to catch the eye. Its bright blooms attract a variety of hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a perfect addition to any garden. Native to China, this plant is also utilized for its medicinal properties to treat various ailments. With its stunning appearance and beneficial uses, erect asian madder is truly a standout in the plant world.
Rubia alata
Rubia alata is characterized by its winged stems, a feature hinted at by the 'alata' in its name, suggesting an airy or lifted aspect. This perennial herb typically exhibits small, yellowish flowers that add a subtle hue to the landscape. Its leaves usually form in whorls, embracing the stem in a striking display. The plant adapts well to forest margins, thriving on the balance between shade and sunlight, which contributes to its robust greenery and resilience in a range of temperate habitats.
Rubia linii
Rubia linii is a resilient perennial herbaceous plant with vibrant green, lance-shaped leaves. It thrives in sunny, well-drained habitats and is marked by its small, yellowish flowers which cluster gracefully at the tips of the stems. The root system of rubia linii is robust, often used in traditional dye-making for its rich red pigments, demonstrating a remarkable interplay between this species and human cultural practices.
Rubia petiolaris
Rubia petiolaris is a climbing or trailing perennial herb known for its whorled leaves and small yellow flowers. Its stems are square in cross-section, a distinctive trait assisting in its vertical ascent. Thriving in wooded areas or thickets, rubia petiolaris displays clusters of dark purple to black berries in autumn, providing nourishment to wildlife and aiding in seed dispersal. Adaptations such as climbing stems allow rubia petiolaris to reach sunlight by using other plants for support.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Rubia
Rubia
Rubia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It contains around 80 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and subshrubs native to the Old World.
Lifespan
Perennial
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Key Facts About Rubia
Feedback
Attributes of Rubia
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Rubia
Distribution of Rubia
Feedback
Distribution Map of Rubia
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Rubia
Feedback
The rubia genus comprises perennial climbing plants famed for their attractive foliage and utility in traditional medicine and dye production. Their basic care involves bright, indirect sunlight, well-draining soil, and regular watering, while avoiding waterlogging. The rubia plants pose a low challenge for caretakers with occasional issues related to aphids and powdery mildew. Seasonal care includes reducing water in winter and regular pruning before spring, as they can become invasive. With careful attention, rubia can be a resilient and rewarding addition to any garden.
Exploring the Rubia Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Wild madder
Wild madder (Rubia peregrina) is a member of the coffee family and is native to Mediterranean Europe and Africa. It produces greenish-yellow flowers that are insect-pollinated; these flowers then mature into green berries that eventually ripen to black. The genus name “Rubia” is Latin for red, a reference to the fact that some species (notably Rubia tinctorum) have been used to create red dyes.
Indian madder
Rubia cordifolia is a flowering plant commonly known as indian madder. It is native to Asia, Africa, and Europe, growing wild at forest edges and cultivated for the red pigment in the roots. This is used to create a traditional dye for high-quality textiles. It is also a food plant for some butterflies and moths.
Indian madder
Indian madder is a herbaceous perennial known for its climbing habit. With large, heart-shaped leaves and small yellowish flowers, it thrives in forest undergrowths, twining around other plants for support. The signature reddish roots of indian madder are prominent in traditional dying processes and medicine, hinting at its ecological adaptability and utility.
Dyer's madder
Dyer's madder has historically been used to make a vibrant red dye. It has also been used to polish metal work. Dyer's madder is an evergreen popular food source for butterfly larvae. It has a climbing habit and is cultivated into flower beds. This perennial is naturally found in disturbed areas and hedges.
Show More Species
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
