Hardy Blue-Flowered Leadwort
(Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
Hardy Blue-Flowered Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
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Photo by David J. Stang
CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo by David J. Stang
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CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo by: Photo by David J. Stang | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: David Stang | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Ceratostigma_plumbaginoides_11zz.jpg | Notes: User created page with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, commonly known as Hardy Blue-flowered Leadwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to rocky slopes and open woodlands in China. It typically grows to 50 cm (20 in) tall and broad, forming a dense mat with small, ovoid leaves. The plant is renowned for its bright blue flowers that bloom in late summer and early autumn, providing a striking contrast against the foliage, which may turn red or purple in the fall before dropping. The bark and stems are also noteworthy for their reddish-brown coloration.
Hardy Blue-flowered Leadwort is appreciated for its late-season color and is often used as ground cover, in rock gardens, and for border planting. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F) and prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with moist, well-drained soil. While it can be invasive, careful placement or container cultivation can mitigate this issue. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its value in ornamental horticulture. The plant requires moderate watering and thrives in a range of soil types, provided they offer adequate drainage.CC BY-SA 4.0
Hardy Blue-flowered Leadwort is appreciated for its late-season color and is often used as ground cover, in rock gardens, and for border planting. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F) and prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with moist, well-drained soil. While it can be invasive, careful placement or container cultivation can mitigate this issue. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its value in ornamental horticulture. The plant requires moderate watering and thrives in a range of soil types, provided they offer adequate drainage.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Subshrub, Herb
- Height: 0.8-1 feet
- Width: 1-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Rocky slopes and open woodlands in Western China
Other Names
Common Names: Blue Leadwood, Dwarf Plumbago, Lady Larpent’s Loodkruid, Blåblomma, Lan Xue Hua
Scientific Names: , Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Plumbago larpentiae, Plumbago larpentae, Ceratostigma plantaginoides, Valoradia plumbaginoides,
GBIF Accepted Name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Bunge