- Botanical name: Ceratostigma willmottianum
- Common name: Chinese plumbago
- Family: Plumbaginaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub, Deciduous
Blue
Green
- Key features:
- Autumn colour
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
The Chinese plumbago, Ceratostigma willmottianum, is a spreading, deciduous shrub with slender, bristly mid-green stems and green leaves with purple margins, which become bright red in autumn. From late summer to autumn it bears striking cobalt-blue flowers, when many other flowers have gone over.
Grow Ceratostigma willmottianum towards the front of a sheltered, sunny border in well-drained soil. Cut back dead flowers in spring.Â
How to grow Ceratostigma willmottianum
-
Plant size
100cm height
1.5m spread
-
Aspect
East facing, south facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do not Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do not Take cuttings in April |
M
Do not Take cuttings in May |
J
Do not Take cuttings in June |
J
Do not Take cuttings in July |
A
Do Take cuttings in August |
S
Do Take cuttings in September |
O
Do not Take cuttings in October |
N
Do not Take cuttings in November |
D
Do not Take cuttings in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do Prune in March |
A
Do Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Ceratostigma willmottianum and wildlife
Ceratostigma willmottianum has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Ceratostigma willmottianum poisonous?
Ceratostigma willmottianum has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
