PLUMBAGO Plumbago auriculata Characteristics Type: Broadleaf evergreen Bloom Time: Flowers freely Zone: 8 to 11 Flower: Showy Height: 1.00 to 3.00 feet Sun: Full sun to part shade Spread: 1.00 to 3.00 feet Water: Medium Bloom Color: Pale blue Maintenance: Medium Culture Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-11 where it grows best in organically rich, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. In cooler areas, grow in pots/containers which must be overwintered indoors. May be grown as a rounded shrub or trained with ties on a trellis as a vine. Site in locations protected from strong winds. During the growing season, it does best in consistently moist soils, but established plants are quite tolerant of some drought. When overwintering as a houseplant, bring indoors before first fall frost to a bright sunny room. Cut back stems hard in late winter to encourage new growth for the coming season. May be easily grown from seed, but plants generally will not flower until the second year. Noteworthy Characteristics Plumbago auriculata, commonly called cape leadwort or cape plumbago is a native to South Africa. It is a weak-stemmed perennial evergreen shrub that grows 6-7’ tall and 8-10’ wide in its native habitat. It more typically will grow 1-3’ per year and is often kept relatively compact through periodic prunings and/or a hard annual pruning. Features clusters (terminal racemes) of pale blue phlox-like flowers that bloom freely throughout the growing season. Flowers are followed by barbed fruit capsules. Oblong to oblanceolate green leaves (to 3” long) have ear-shaped bases, hence the species name. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, a low-growing ground cover that is winter hardy, is in the same family as the within plant and is commonly called plumbago. Genus name comes from the Latin name derived from plumbum meaning lead and ago a termination of many Latin plant names used to indicate a resemblance or a property. Specific epithet refers to the ear-shaped bases of the leaves. Problems Watch for whiteflies, spider mites and mealy bugs on indoor plants. Garden Use Commonly grown in as a low hedge, ground cover or on fences. Can be grown in pots/containers for patios, decks or other sunny areas around the home or sink to the rim in garden areas. Houseplant. Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder .