Care of the plant Ceratostigma plumbaginoides or Blue leadwood |
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The genus Ceratostigma, family Caryophyllaceae, includes 8 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs native to Africa and Asia. Some species are: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Ceratostigma willmottianum, Ceratostigma abyssinicum. Common names: Blue leadwood, Dwarf Plumbago, Hardy blue-flowered leadwort. This species is native to Western China. They are small perennial plants with a creeping habit that reach 15 cm (5.9") in height. The leaves are deep green (bronze in autumn) and spatulate-acuminate in shape. The flowers are small, tube-shaped, blue in color and have 5 petals. They bloom for a long time from summer to fall. They are used to cover slopes, in low maintenance areas of the garden and in rockeries. They are ideal for coastal gardens. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides need full sun exposure, although they tolerate shade. They resist frost. It's a very rustic plant that can grow in calcareous, arid and dry soils. Water regularly throughout the year but with little water. Prune intensively at ground level in late winter. They can become invasive plants if growth is not controlled. They are easy to grow plants that do not need fertilizers. The main enemy is overwatering, which causes fungal diseases. They propagate by cuttings in spring or by division in late winter. |
Images of the plant Ceratostigma plumbaginoides or Blue leadwood |
 Ceratostigma plumbaginoides  Ceratostigma plumbaginoides  Ceratostigma plumbaginoides  Ceratostigma plumbaginoides |