Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata): Sky-Blue Blooms for Warm Climates

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), also known as cape leadwort, is a sprawling, semi-evergreen shrub that produces masses of delicate, phlox-like sky-blue flowers (also a white form) from spring through fall. Its long, arching stems can be trained as a vine, hedge, or ground cover.

Features

The plant grows 6–10 feet tall and wide, with light green, oblong leaves. The five-petaled flowers appear in terminal clusters and are a magnet for butterflies. It blooms almost continuously in frost-free areas.

Culture

Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Prune hard in late winter to maintain shape and encourage new flowering wood. Hardy in zones 9–11; in zone 8, it may die back but resprout.

Taxonomy

• Family: Plumbaginaceae
• Genus: Plumbago
• Species: auriculata
• Synonym: Plumbago capensis