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Leadwort Wikimedia Commons
Plumbaginaceae

Leadwort

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Valor and courage.

Family
Plumbaginaceae
Genus
Ceratostigma
Native to
Western China
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
6-12 in
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, average
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • It is one of the few perennials that provides true cobalt-blue flowers in late summer and fall.
  • The foliage turns brilliant bronze-red in autumn, providing a second season of interest.
  • Its common name comes from the historical belief that the plant could cure lead poisoning.
  • It spreads by underground rhizomes to form a dense ground cover that suppresses weeds.
  • Robert Fortune collected it in China in the 1840s and introduced it to English gardens.

Color meanings

0

courage

1

determination

2

boldness

Uses

  • ground cover
  • border edging
  • rock gardens
  • fall color interest