Ceratostigma willmottianum – Chinese Plumbago

Description

Ceratostigma – There are about 8 species of deciduous and evergreen small shrub and herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They occur in dry, open situation in Northeastern tropical Africa, the Himalayas, and Eastern Asia. They are grown for their 5 lobed, salverform blue flowers, borne in terminal and axillary, loose spike like clusters from early summer to autumn, and for their simple, alternate, deep green leaves, which turn crimson or bronze in autumn. Grow in a mixed or shrub border, or against a warm, sunny wall. Grow in moderately fertile, light, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Prone to powdery mildew. C. willmottianum – Chinese Plumbago – This open branched, spreading, deciduous shrub from Western China grows 3′ feet tall and 5′ feet wide. It produces slender, bristly, mid green stems that carry lance to diamond shaped, pointed, bristly dark green, purple edged leaves, to 2″ long, turn red in autumn. From late summer to autumn it bears terminal or axillary, spike like cluster of lilac-blue flowers, 1″ across, with red-purple tubes. Zones 6-9