- Botanical name: Plumbago auriculata
- Common name: Cape leadwort
- Family: Plumbaginaceae
- Plant Type: Conservatory, Evergreen
Blue
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
Cape leadwort, Plumbago auriculata, is a vigorous, evergreen climber typically use for covering large conservatory walls. Although tender, it can be grown outside in summer, trained up a trellis or obelisk. Strictly speaking a shrub but best grown as a climber, it bears masses of intense blue, unscented flowers all summer and into autumn.
For best results grow Plumbago auriculata in a large pot of multi-purpose compost in the conservatory or greenhouse. If growing outside, cut back to ground level and bring back undercover in autumn. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
How to grow Plumbago auriculata
-
Plant size
4m height
1.5m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Tender
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / acidic
- Plant care: Needs regular watering in pots
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| 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 not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not 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 flower in June |
J
Plant does 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 Take cuttings in June |
J
Do Take cuttings in July |
A
Do Take cuttings in August |
S
Do not 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 not Prune in March |
A
Do not 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 Prune in October |
N
Do Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Plumbago auriculata and wildlife
Plumbago auriculata has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Plumbago auriculata poisonous?
Plumbago auriculata irritates skin, irritates eyes, is harmful if ingested, causes an upset stomach and toxins are absorbed by the skin. Its fruit, bark, pollen, seeds, roots, seed capsules, foliage and sap are toxic.
Toxic to People
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
Plants that go well with Plumbago auriculata
