Plumbago auriculata (Cape Leadwort)
Cape Leadwort, Cape Plumbago, Leaderwort, Pumbago du Cap, Plumbago capensis
Plumbago auriculata (Cape Leadwort) is an evergreen vine to sprawling, mounding shrub boasting a profusion of beautiful sky-blue, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped flowers on short racemes over a long season. Blooming freely from spring through summer, or nearly all year in warm, frost-free locations, the blossoms are borne at the tips of slender, scandent stems bearing light green, spoon-shaped leaves. The gracefully arching branches fall over each other, producing a shrub-like mass. Cape Leadwort can also be trained on a trellis as a vine or used as a groundcover. Gorgeous spilling over the edges of large containers or cascading down a retaining wall, showing off the unusual blue flowers.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
- Grows up to 6-10 ft. tall (180-300 cm) and 8-10 ft. wide (240-300 cm).
- Easily grown in organically rich, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Site in a location protected from strong winds. Consistently moist soils are best during the growing season. Drought tolerant once established.
- Great for beds and borders, wall-side borders, containers, Mediterranean gardens.
- Virtually disease free. Keep an eye out for mealybugs, tortrix moth, glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite on indoor plants. Deer resistant.
- Cut back sideshoots to within three to four buds of the permanent framework of branches to promote more compact growth and more blooms.
- Propagate by seed at 13-18°C in spring, or take semi-hardwood cuttings in mid-summer with bottom heat.
- Native to South Africa.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 8
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 10
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Climbers, Shrubs |
Plant Family | Plumbago |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m) |
Spread | 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m) |
Spacing | 48" – 72" (120cm – 180cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden |
Arturijo, Cherdchai Chaivimol, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 8
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 10
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Climbers, Shrubs |
Plant Family | Plumbago |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m) |
Spread | 8' – 10' (240cm – 3m) |
Spacing | 48" – 72" (120cm – 180cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden |