They can have a trailing or upright growth habit, depending on cultivar. A means of controlling erosion on slopes or in rocky areas where not much else will grow. It is important to note that the toxicity of a plant can vary depending on the species and variety of plant, as well as the individual animals sensitivities. Because of its pest and disease resistance, how to care for plumbago is pretty basic. Plumbago, apart from watering after planting, will need a lot of water when the weather is hot, especially if grown in a pot. So, it can withstand some brief periods of dry soil as long as you drench the ground occasionally. Ideally, cape plumbago needs six to eight hours of sunshine daily. Discard the removed, spent flowers on a compost pile or in a trash bin. Youll know you have them when you begin spotting tiny white bugs on the leaves. The most important task to caring for plumbago is how to handle it over winter. Gardening Fans: Plant Red Flowering Trees in Florida! This encourages new growth and healthy foliage. It should take the cutting approximately one month to form roots. This way, you minimize the risk of disease. Although they tolerate heavy pruning, cutting too frequently can adversely affect growth. Prune in late winter or spring while the plant remains dormant.Remove all of a plumbago's dead and broken branches, advises North Carolina State Cooperative Extension. The flowers appear on the plant's new growth throughout the active growing season and attract butterflies. You can avoid most plant problems by not overwatering them. Plumbago thrives in the South African heat and in the United States it is found growing year-round in the southernmost parts of Texas and Florida. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Can I Plant Next To Plumbago? To encourage blooming all summer long, you could also add a teaspoon of fish emulsion to each gallon (3.7 l) of fertilizer liquid. Gardening with Big Ball Flowers: A Guide for Fans, Gardening with Marigolds: Reaping the Benefits of a Natural Insect Repellent, Uncovering the Longest Blooming Flowers for Gardening Enthusiasts. Potted plumbago grows outdoors in United States Department of Agriculture growing zones 8b thrugh 11. Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch around the plants to insulate. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Can Plumbago Grow From A Cuttings? Once you have established plumbago plants, you can propagate to grow even more. There are a few items you should look for. While the plant tends to be upright, the foliage does gently cascade over at the edge of the mass. Taking stem cuttings in the summer is the best way to propagate blue plumbago plants. When deciding where to grow a plumbago plant, remember that it needs plenty of room to spread. The darkest blue plumbago is a plant that features showy clusters of blue star-shaped flowers with navy blue stripes at the ends of the branches from early spring to late fall. Gardening Channel. Favor planting plumbago in spring in a place with a lot of sun. It can cause your skin to develop rashes and even blister. The ASPCA website lists plumbago as non-toxic to dogs, while other sources claim that the plant is toxic to animals. Should You Prune Plumbago? Most Plumbago cultivars bloom from May until the first significant frost, and pruning during this season should be limited to the removal of spent blooms. Water plumbago upon planting and prvide average water during the summer months. You can grow plumbago in the ground all year if you have cool temperatures between 50F and 65F (10C 18C) in the winter. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. Depending on your climate, plumbago grows as an annual or herbaceous flowering perennial. Water the plant enough to keep the ground consistently moist, especially in hot weather. It prefers nutrient-dense soil but doesnt require it. Plumbago should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Although it generally resists diseases well, plumbago regularly experiences aphid onslaughts. The beautiful flowers grow on the end of thin stems. The final condition to be aware of when dealing with plumbago is that this plant is toxic to people and animals in every way. If spring gets too busy, and you miss your window, you can repot the plant in the fall as its becoming dormant. The plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), also known as skyflower, leadwort and cape plumbago, produces phloxlike clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of blue and white. Your email address will not be published. Cut back on fertilizer as well. A plumbago is a perennial, but it is a tender perennial, wich means it is not as cold hardy as other perennials. However, you must cut the plant back to soil level before the first frost. With proper care, your plumbago will soon be climbing gracefully up the trellis! Here is a list of the more common plumbago varieties, grouped by color. If youre concerned about water drainage in your pot, ensure there are holes in the bottom. Plumbago shrubs produce brightly colored white or sky-blue flowers and are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. Because they love humidity, cape plumbago or cape leadwort grows well in Florida, Louisiana, and California. In planting zones seven and eight, you can plant plumbago inground. During dry weather, water in-ground plants once a week, soaking the soil slowly as you water, then let the area dry out before you water again. Theyre light and covered with small hooks and will stick to your clothing. This may require watering twice a week or more. Well discuss pruning in a later section. The plant will regrow dring the following spring. In zone 8, you may have to cover the plant in winter if theres a light frost. Position each cut 1/4 inch above the second to fourth leaf located below the spent flower cluster. You can transplant a plumbago plant to your garden when the soil temperature is at least 50F (10C). Make each cut 1/4 inch above an outward-facing leaf or lateral stem. The oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. When not in this season, simply avoid high temperatures to plant your plumbago. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. When the eggs hatch, the larvae munch on the foliage. The larvae of the Cassius blue butterfly arent a typical pest. Its naturally rounded growth pattern works well in large pots. Discovering the Beauty of Magnolia: A Gardeners Guide, Growing Kale in Pots: An Easy Guide for Gardening Fans, Savoring Sweetness: Growing Sun Sugar Tomatoes, Caring for Your Blue Candle Cactus: A Gardeners Guide, Do Deer Eat Comfrey: A Gardening Fans Guide, 27 Chocolate Scented Daisies Gardening Facts. Alternatively, you can plant cape plumbago as a border plant, evergreen privacy screen, or let the sprawling stems grow as fast-growing ground cover. Put on safety glasses and spray all of the remaining plumbago stumps with the herbicide mixture until the bark is saturated. Yes, plumbago can make a good hedge. You should dig a hole in a sunny part of your garden and work in a few inches of organic compost. Avoid indiscriminate haircut pruning of plumbago shrubs, which only removes the top layer of growth, as this can reduce flowering and adversely affect the growth of the plant. Can grow up to 6 foot tall and wide. To amend the earth, you can work in peat moss and compost to boost organic matter. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, commonly called plumbago or leadwort, is a wiry, mat-forming perennial which spreads by rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Plumbago should be deadheaded during the growing season to promote new growth and maintain its health and appearance. Yes, blue plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) is a climber. It is drought-tolerant once established though performs best with regular watering and sunshine. Start Early and Deadhead Regularly The first is perhaps the essential aspect to deadheading your flowers. To shape your plumbago blue, you will need to cut back all leggy stems or branches that detract from the plumbagos overall shape after each flush of blooms. Plumbago auriculata should not be confused with dwarf plumbago or hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) which is a low ground cover perennial plant with similar flowers and leaves that grows only up to 1 ft. (30 cm) high and 1.5 ft. (45 cm) width. Place the branch pieces on a compost pile or in a trash bin. tall with a four foot (1 m.) spread. Blue plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) is a perennial or annual evergreen shrub. Fill the container to the halfway point with soil, place the plant, and finish filling the rest of the planter with soil. Place the root ball in the hole and fill in the remaining space and press down firmly. The advantage of usng cuttings is that you can get an exact clone of the mother plant. Plumbago can become leggy and woody over time and may need to be pruned to maintain its shape and size. How to Trim Lucky Bamboo Stalks and Roots, North Carolina State Cooperative Extension, Missouri Botanical Garden: Plumbago auriculata, North Carolina State Cooperative Extension: General Pruning Techniques, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Disinfecting Your Garden Tools, How to grow your own herb garden in any indoor or outdoor space, How to Prune Crab Apples for the Best Shape. By providing basic care to your plumbago plant, you should have beautiful, blue flowers brightening up your landscape in no time. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It wont bloom when temperatures start cooling down. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Plumbago can tolerate drought well, but too much water can caue this shrub to wilt and look near death, especially if drainage is poor. There are different ways to propagate plumbago. Use hand-held pruners to remove spent blooms and branches less than inch in diameter and saws for anything larger. This article is a guide to growing plumbago plants to enhance your garden landscape. The fruit, bark, pollen, seeds, roots, seed capsules, foliage, and sap of plumbago plants are all poisonous and should not be consumed by humans or animals. When spring comes, uncover your plant, move it outdoors, give it more water, and fertilize it to encourage new growth. Top care tip for fertilizing plumbago plants: Stop fertilizing plumbago plants as soon as blooming finishes. It would be best if you planted it in the sunniest part of your front or backyard, where there is fertile, well-drained soil. This perennial ground cover is hardy from zone 5 to zone 9 blooms from July to Sept. You may have to thoroughly water the soil once a week to keep the ground moist in summer. Plumbago auriculata Imperial Blue has deep sky-blue flowers. Yes, plumbago can grow in pots. Sign up for our newsletter. Typically, household air is too dry for many tropical evergreen perennials. Blue plumbago has simple, alternately-arranged, oblong obovate (spoon-shaped) shiny green leaves. Sterilize the blades of your pruning tools both before and after pruning to prevent the spread of plant diseases. Plumbago is not a difficult plant to multiply, but there are a few tips and rules to follow for success. Soak the blades for 30 minutes in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water, advises the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Emerging late in spring, they turn striking bronzy-red or purple in the fall. tall with a four foot (1 m.) spread. Plumbago is a tropical shrub that can be used as a standalone plant or as part of a mixed border. However, if you live in other planting zones, you must care for your plumbago plant, or it wont make it over the winter months. To deadhead your tuberous begonias, pinch the faded bloom from the stem with your thumb and fingers, squeezing the stem just behind the bloom. 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