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Cape Plumbago Wikimedia Commons
Plumbaginaceae

Cape Plumbago

Plumbago auriculata

Calm serenity.

Family
Plumbaginaceae
Genus
Plumbago
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
6-10 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The sticky glandular hairs on the flower calyx trap small insects—an adaptation that may deter nectar thieves.
  • Cape plumbago's sky-blue color is remarkably rare in the plant kingdom and has made it a beloved garden plant worldwide.
  • The plant's name comes from the Latin 'plumbum' (lead), as it was once thought to cure lead poisoning.
  • In warm climates, Cape plumbago can bloom almost continuously for nine months of the year.
  • Long-tongued butterflies and moths are the primary pollinators of this tubular flower.

Color meanings

0

serenity

1

travel

2

calm waters

Uses

  • hedge plantings
  • container gardens
  • ground cover on slopes