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Cape Leadwort Wikimedia Commons
Plumbaginaceae

Cape Leadwort

Plumbago auriculata

Tranquil beauty.

Family
Plumbaginaceae
Genus
Plumbago
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
3-10 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, fertile
Water
moderate
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Cape leadwort produces clusters of sky-blue flowers that bloom almost continuously in warm climates.
  • The name 'plumbago' comes from the Latin 'plumbum' (lead), as the plant was once believed to cure lead poisoning.
  • The sticky glandular hairs on its flower calyces trap small insects, though the plant is not carnivorous.
  • It is one of the most widely planted ornamental shrubs in Mediterranean and subtropical climates worldwide.
  • Cape leadwort can be trained as a vine, a hedge, or a ground cover depending on pruning technique.

Color meanings

0

serenity

1

gentle strength

Uses

  • hedge planting
  • ornamental shrub
  • butterfly garden