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Plumbago auriculata Plumbago, Cape Plumbago, Sky Flower

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

This sprawling, mounding, somewhat vine-like, evergreen shrub is quite outstanding because it is covered most of the year with clusters of pale blue, phlox-like flowers. Plumbago is excellent as a foundation planting or when used in planters. It will cascade down a retaining wall, showing off the unusual blue flowers. It has also been sheared into a hedge, but most of the flowers are removed at each pruning.

Full Form - Plumbago auriculata Plumbago, Cape Plumbago, Sky Flower
Figure 1. Full Form - Plumbago auriculata Plumbago, cape plumbago, sky flower.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Flower - Plumbago auriculata Plumbago, Cape Plumbago, Sky Flower
Figure 2. Flower - Plumbago auriculata Plumbago, cape plumbago, sky flower.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Plumbago auriculata

Pronunciation: plum-BAY-go ah-rick-yoo-LAY-tuh

Common name(s): plumbago, cape plumbago, sky flower, cape leadwort, leadwort

Family: Plumbaginaceae

Plant type: shrub

USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Figure 3)

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: native to Africa

Invasive potential: not considered a problem species at this time and may be recommended by UF/IFAS faculty (reassess in 10 years)

Uses: border; mass planting; container or above-ground planter; hedge; attracts butterflies

Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 3. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Credit:

Description

Height: 6 to 10 feet

Spread: 8 to 10 feet

Plant habit: spreading; round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: fast

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: undulate

Leaf shape: oblong

Leaf venation: brachidodrome

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: blue

Flower characteristic: year-round flowering; pleasant fragrance

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated

Fruit length: less than 0.5 inch

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multi-trunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: thin

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam; slightly alkaline

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: sprouts from roots or lower trunk

Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Needing full sun for best growth and flowering, plumbago will grow on any fertile, well-drained soil, becoming drought-tolerant once established. Leaves may yellow on soils with a high pH, indicating mineral deficiency. Plumbago responds well to an application or two of fertilizer during the growing season to encourage continuous growth and flowering. Excessive growth can be removed at any time of year.

Plants in north-central Florida quickly recover in the spring following a killing freeze. Allow 4 to 6 feet between plants in a mass planting so that the natural cascading, fountain shape will develop. Plumbago also looks attractive as a specimen if located in a low ground cover.

The variety 'Alba' has white flowers.

Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or division.

Pests and Diseases

Pest problems include cottony cushion scale and mites.

No diseases are of major concern.

Publication #FPS487

Release Date:January 18, 2024

Related Collections

Part of Shrubs Fact Sheets

Related Topics

Organism ID

About this Publication

This document is FPS487, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 1999. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus; Ryan W. Klein, assistant professor, arboriculture; and Gail Hansen, professor, sustainable landscape design; Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman
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