Scientific Name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Common Name: plumbago, leadwort
Family Name: Plumbaginaceae
Origin: S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Zone: Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, Weed (horticultural)
Mature Size: 0.2 - 0.4m x 0.3 - 0.6m (height x width)
Habit: Horizontal, Spreading
Form: Creeping / Mat-like
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Container planting, Filler, Ground cover, Perennial border, Rock garden
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Lustrous, Obovate, Ovate, Ciliate, Entire
Flowers: Cyme, Blue, Jul-Aug-Sep-Oct
Fruit: Capsule, Brown, Oct-Nov
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, most obovate, 2-5cm long x 1-3cm wide, glabrous, margin entire; florets funnelform, phlox-like, 2-3cm long x 1.2-2cm wide, 5 vibrant dark blue petals, opening from terminal rounded cymose clusters of 15-30 dark red buds (usually only 1-5 florets open at once).