Plumbago Plumbago auriculata
Introduction
This sprawling, mounding, somewhat vine-like, evergreen
shrub is quite outstanding because it is covered most of
the year with clusters of pale blue, phlox-like flowers.
Plumbago is excellent as a foundation planting, or when used
in planters. It will cascade down a retaining wall, showing
off the unusual blue flowers. It has also been sheared into
a hedge but most of the flowers are removed at each pruning.
General Information
Scientific name: Plumbago auriculata
Pronunciation: plum-BAY-go ah-rick-yoo-LAY-tuh
Common name(s): Plumbago, Cape Plumbago, Sky Flower
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: border; mass planting; container or above-ground
planter; hedge; attracts butterflies
Availability: generally available in many areas within
its hardiness range
Description
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Spread: 8 to 10 feet
Plant habit: spreading; round
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: undulate
Leaf shape: oblong
Leaf venation: brachidodrome
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: blue
Flower characteristic: year-round flowering; pleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: elongated
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: brown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multitrunked
or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: thin
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam; slightly alkaline
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: sprouts from roots or lower trunk
Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form,
nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
Needing full sun for best growth and flowering, Plumbago will
grow on any fertile, well-drained soil, becoming droughttolerant
once established. Leaves may yellow on soils with a high pH,
indicating mineral-deficiency. Plumbago responds well to an application
or two of fertilizer during the growing season to encourage continuous
growth and flowering. Excessive growth can be removed at any
time of year. Plants in north-central Florida quickly recover
in the spring following a killing freeze. Allow four to six feet
between plants in a mass planting so the natural cascading, fountain
shape develops. Plumbago also looks attractive as a specimen
if located in a low ground cover. The variety ‘Alba’ has
white flowers. Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or division.
Pest problems include cottony cushion scale and mites.
Pests and Diseases
No diseases are of major concern.
by Edward F. Gilman
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