The deep blue flowers are numerous and long-lasting beginning in early fall. To 4 feet or more high and wide. When plants show signs of aging, remove old crowns and replace with rooted stems. Plumbago also looks attractive as a specimen if located in a low ground cover. Plumbago’s phlox-like blue or white flowers attract butterflies and give off a pleasant fragrance. It is not as showy as the commonly grown introduced plumbago. Plumbago is an easy-care plant which provides gardeners with delicate light-blue flowers. Credit: Bob Peterson. Both species of plumbago develop sprawling, mounded shapes. Plumbago Host to the … Plumbago is a perfect plant for low growing hedges or a nice backdrop for… Read More They can have a trailing or upright growth habit, depending on cultivar. Moderate. Take cuttings from the mature root (1/4- to 1/2-inch diameter) of a two- to three-year-old plumbago in late winter or early spring, says the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This species is grown primarily for its use as a butterfly plant. Plumbago auriculata can be affected by tiny insects called chilli thrips, which cause the leaves to look curled and stunted. A: Plumbago, Plumbago auriculata, is most commonly found with blue flowers however one of the specific cultivars of plumbago, ‘Alba’, produces white flowers. © 2002-2021 Copyright: Florida Native Plant Society. Plumbago is a flowering, perennial shrub. USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures. This species has a pan-tropical distribution. Plumbago shrubs produce brightly colored white or sky-blue flowers and are … Bury 2- to 6-inch-long cuttings horizontally under 1/2 inch of rooting medium. Plumbago zeylanica. Its clusters of cool blue or white flowers are unmatched and make it a favorite among traditional garden selections. In Florida it is rarely found in the disturbed sites of Hillsborough, Brevard, Martin and Lee counties (Wunderlin, 2003). Growth damaged by frost should be pruned off in spring. It is present in Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands (Kartesz, 1999). Plumbago auriculata is the classic blue plumbago, native to South Africa. Moisture: Moist to average. From University of Florida (UF), Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences. The Blue Plumbago plant was originally discovered in the hot environment of South Africa and has since been introduced to mild climates around the world, including Florida, Texas, California, Australia, and Spain(University of Florida- Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences- … Quantity. Shrub responds well to pruning. Plumbago is a native plant to Florida, and is also found in South Africa. Excellent butterfly attractor. Add to cart 1 - 4" pot of White Plumbago/ Plumbago scandens Butterfly host for the Cassius blue. Plants in north-central Florida quickly recover in the spring following a killing freeze. Plumbago auriculata is native to South Africa and escaped from cultivation. If it grows out of bounds or becomes leggy, simply whack it back once or twice a year and it … It's especially nice combined with other plants with silvery foliage and those with pink, yellow or white flowers. White Plumbago 4" pot. P. auriculata is the classic blue plumbago; it's non-native, but Florida-Friendly. Hardy coastal ground cover with small white flowers throughout the year. Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is an outstanding, long-lived groundcover that slowly weaves itself into the garden fabric, creating large drifts of fall color. Though non-native, this species is considered a Florida-Friendly plant and labeled by the UF/IFAS Assessment as “low invasion risk.” It is sometimes called Cape plumbago, leadwort, or sky flower. This is an excellent evergreen ground cover for that natural Florida look. Common names include plumbago and leadwort (names which are also shared by the genus Ceratostigma). Grows in full sun to full shade. Something about the ethereal bluish hue of the plant reminded him of lead; thus plumbago, Latin for “resembling lead.”. Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. It is native to South Africa, and knowing this provides the first clue to how to grow a plumbago, along with where to grow one. Native Range: Southern U.S. to Tropical America. With long, thin stems and pale … Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). Description: Evergreen shrub to 6 ft. Flowering season: All year. As an added bonus, plumbago is the larval host plant for the cassius blue butterfly. Native Habitats: Coastal dunes. These shrubs bloom year-round in South and Central Florida unless hit by frost. As the flowering finishes, the leaves begin a month-long change to a vivid mahogany red color. Exposure: Part sun to shade. This species is grown primarily for its use as a butterfly plant. Although the genus Plumbago contains a dozen or more species, two are most frequently found in Florida: Plumbago auriculata and Plumbago zeylanica (also called P. scandens). Disturbed areas in tropical hammocks (needs light) and pine rocklands. Stems are thin and somewhat vine-like, keeping its form delicate even in mass plantings. Plumbago auriculata, also known commonly as Blue Plumbago, Cape Plumbago, Cape Leadwort and Skyflower, is a root-hardy perennial in our Houston gardens. Cotton cushion scale and mites are occasionally a problem, too, but do not usually affect the long-term health of the plant. Though non-native, this species is considered a Florida-Friendly plant and labeled by the UF/IFAS Assessment as “low invasion risk.” It is sometimes called Cape plumbago, leadwort, or sky flower. It is sometimes called doctorbush. Florida Native Wildflowers. White flowers all soil types. Credit: UF/IFAS, The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Plumbago zeylanica is our Florida-native white plumbago, found from USDA Hardiness zone 9B to 11. across (2.5 cm), over a long season. It generally looks its best when planted in full sun and well-drained soil. ... WILD PLUMBAGO (Plumbago scandens) Grows to maximum 3ft. Hardiness: Zones 9–11 Lifespan: Perennial Soil: Moist to very dry, well-drained sandy, loamy or calcareous soils Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Growth habit: 5–20’+ tall, 3–10’ wide The names plumbago and leadwort have been passed down through history from an ancient Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder. While we can’t speak to any medicinal properties, this plant is a host for the larvae of the cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) and other lepidopterans. 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