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Chinese Plumbago Wikimedia Commons
Plumbaginaceae

Chinese Plumbago

Ceratostigma willmottianum

Clarity and focus.

Family
Plumbaginaceae
Genus
Ceratostigma
Native to
China, Tibet
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
shrub
Height
2-4 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
well-drained, average
Water
moderate
Hardiness
6-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • It was named after Ellen Willmott, one of the greatest gardeners in Edwardian England who grew over 100,000 species.
  • The brilliant cobalt-blue flowers appear in late summer when few other shrubs are in bloom.
  • The foliage turns a brilliant red-bronze in autumn, providing a second season of interest.
  • The genus name Ceratostigma means 'horned stigma,' referring to small projections on the flower's stigma.
  • It was introduced to British gardens by the plant hunter Ernest Wilson in 1908 from western China.

Color meanings

0

clarity

1

steadfastness

2

autumn beauty

Uses

  • ornamental border
  • ground cover
  • autumn garden color