Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Somewhat wide range of soil tolerance except for wet, poorly-drained ones. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates such as St. Louis. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where it will benefit from a light winter mulch. Spreads by rhizomes and can be somewhat aggressive in optimum growing conditions.
Plumbago (also commonly called leadwort) is a wiry, mat-forming perennial which spreads by rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover. Typically grows 6-10" tall on generally erect stems rising from the rhizomes. Oval to obovate, shiny, medium green leaves (to 2" long) turn bronze-red in autumn. Terminal clusters of 5-petaled, gentian blue flowers (1/2 to 3/4" diameter) appear above the foliage over a long summer to frost bloom period. Flowers resemble those of woodland phlox.
Emerging in late spring, this rhizomatous, mat-forming ground cover grows to 6-10 inches tall and is particularly noted for its late season attributes. Five-petaled, woodland phlox-like, blue flowers bloom in clusters from mid-summer to frost on stems with medium green leaves that turn a striking bronze-red in fall. Plants overwinter best if the old foliage is left uncut until spring. This is an excellent ground cover for sunny areas with some afternoon shade such as slopes, under trees, in front of shrubs, in rock gardens and for interplanting with spring bulbs.
No serious insect or disease problems. Will spread.
Late, long-flowering plant serves as excellent ground cover for sunny to partly shaded areas in the landscape. A good plant for interplanting with spring bulbs because foliage emerges late as the bulb foliage is dying back. Underplanting for shrubs. Edger. May be used in rock gardens or border fronts with careful monitoring of spread. As a ground cover, plumbago would probably be as extensively planted as vinca, pachysandra or English ivy, except for the fact that it lacks their evergreen foliage.
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