Why Plant Plumbago?
True blue! If you love blue flowers, then Plumbago is a must-have for your garden. Plant a swath of these sleek groundhugging Spirits, and you’ll have a river of dazzling, dreamy blue blossoms in late summer and early autumn. The foliage has its moment in the spotlight, too. All season long, the shiny, diamond-shaped leaves make a pretty, weed-suppressing carpet in a calming shade of green. But when nights turn frosty, the leaves turn plum-purple, and finally, rosy-red! Use Plumbago to fill in blank spots in your landscape with invigorating splashes of late-season color.
Plumbago, also known as Leadwort, is native to western China. Among the rocky foothills there, it flaunts its electric-blue blossoms, the prettiest wildflower you can imagine. The first Westerner to discover Plumbago was a Russian-German botanist named Alexander von Bunge, in the 1830s. Bunge is best known for his discovery of the noble Lacebark Pine, which bears his name, Pinus bungeana. There are other species of Plumbago with equally mesmerizing blue flowers, but they’re bushier than this one and they’re less cold-hardy. This Plumbago is completely hardy to zone 6 (-10ºF), and it often thrives in zone 5 (-20ºF) with a bit of protection.
How to use Plumbago in the landscape?
Because its new foliage emerges very late in spring, Plumbago makes the ideal companion to early-blooming bulbs such as Daffodils. After the Daffodils have flowered, their leaves wither and disappear, just in time for the Plumbago to fill in the space with fresh, clean foliage.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
How To Plant Plumbago
Although Plumbago will grow happily in a shady spot, it will be more floriferous in full sun. It will also tolerate some dryness but will be much lusher in a regularly irrigated site. The type of soil doesn’t matter much as long as it drains decently. Plumbago (a.k.a. Leadwort) doesn’t care for soggy conditions. Plants will spread enthusiastically under the right circumstances, so you’ll have to keep them in check if you don’t want them to stray too far. Mark plants with golf tees so you can find them in the spring; they disappear completely in winter and are slow to re-emerge.
How To Water
Water as soon as they arrive! Plumbago plants need to be watered regularly to maintain evenly moist soil for proper establishment in the landscape.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
