Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
hardy plumbago
The slender red stems of this low spreading, woody perennial are clothed in bright green leaves, which take on spectacular red shades in autumn before they fall. Hardy plumbago is are mainly grown however for its vivid blue flowers, which form in small clusters from late summer to mid-autumn.
A superb plant for adding late colour to the front of the border, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides will become drought tolerant once established.
A superb plant for adding late colour to the front of the border, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides will become drought tolerant once established.
How to care for Ceratostigma plumbaginoides:
Plant hardy plumbago in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, ideally in a sheltered spot that stays reasonably warm. It prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils and copes well with dry conditions once established. In early to mid-spring, cut back the previous year’s flowered shoots to around 2.5cm (1in) above the old growth to tidy the plant and encourage fresh new stems.
After pruning, apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil structure. It’s a good ground cover for sunny borders, under shrubs or in gravel gardens, and offers rich autumn colour, as a bonus, as leaves turn red before dying back.
After pruning, apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil structure. It’s a good ground cover for sunny borders, under shrubs or in gravel gardens, and offers rich autumn colour, as a bonus, as leaves turn red before dying back.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.45m
Eventual spread:
0.3m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
hardy plumbago
The slender red stems of this low spreading, woody perennial are clothed in bright green leaves, which take on spectacular red shades in autumn before they fall. Hardy plumbago is are mainly grown however for its vivid blue flowers, which form in small clusters from late summer to mid-autumn.
A superb plant for adding late colour to the front of the border, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides will become drought tolerant once established.
A superb plant for adding late colour to the front of the border, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides will become drought tolerant once established.
How to care for Ceratostigma plumbaginoides:
Plant hardy plumbago in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, ideally in a sheltered spot that stays reasonably warm. It prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils and copes well with dry conditions once established. In early to mid-spring, cut back the previous year’s flowered shoots to around 2.5cm (1in) above the old growth to tidy the plant and encourage fresh new stems.
After pruning, apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil structure. It’s a good ground cover for sunny borders, under shrubs or in gravel gardens, and offers rich autumn colour, as a bonus, as leaves turn red before dying back.
After pruning, apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil structure. It’s a good ground cover for sunny borders, under shrubs or in gravel gardens, and offers rich autumn colour, as a bonus, as leaves turn red before dying back.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.45m
Eventual spread:
0.3m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.