Cape Plumbago

Plumbago Auriculata

Design with this plant

Overview

Plumbago auriculata, or Cape Plumbago, is a versatile shrub reaching 5-6 feet in height and equally wide. It showcases sky-blue flowers nearly year-round in warm regions. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11, it enjoys full sun to partial shade, and requires moderate watering. This robust, fast grower offers a rambling structure, perfect for hedges or as a climber on trellises, and is known for attracting butterflies and other pollinators.

Sun Full, HalfWater LowZones 9–10Climate Mediterranean

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — Plumbago auriculata, or Cape Plumbago, is a versatile shrub reaching 5-6 feet in height and equally wide

Culture

Sun: Full, Half
Water: Low
USDA zones: 9–10

Shape & size

Classification

Family: Plumbaginaceae
Climate: Mediterranean

See full data, regional cultivation notes, full-resolution photos, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (127)

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — Cape Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata); blue flowers in the garden, image 127

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — particularly during prolonged dry spells; shrub with blue blooms, image 110

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — ideally in the late winter or early spring; and is known for attracting butterflies and other pollinators, image 111

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — will maintain its shape and encourage denser growth.<br><br>Its phlox-like flowers; it requires regular, image 112

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — which bloom profusely from spring to fall; they add not only visual interest but also aid in the ecological, image 113

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — offer a true spectacle of color; hardy in USDA zones 9-11, it enjoys full sun to partial shade, and requires, image 114

Cape Plumbago (Plumbago Auriculata) — Attracting butterflies and other pollinators; allowing for a flexible use as either a foundation plant, image 115

Related plants

Red-Leaved Sea Thrift (Armeria Maritima 'Rubrifolia') — is a compact perennial prized for its ruby-red foliage

Red-Leaved Sea Thrift

Armeria Maritima 'Rubrifolia'

Full · Zones 2–9

Sea Lavender (Limonium Perezii) — is a robust perennial showcasing clusters of purple flowers atop 18-inch tall stems

Sea Lavender

Limonium Perezii

Full · Zones 9–10

Sea Pink (Armeria Maritima) — a charming evergreen perennial

Sea Pink

Armeria Maritima

Full · Zones 3–10

False Sea Pink (Armeria Maritima 'Bloodstone') — Armeria maritima 'Bloodstone' (False Sea Pink) is an herbaceous perennial with grass-like foliage

False Sea Pink

Armeria Maritima 'Bloodstone'

Full · Zones 3–8

Sea Thrift (Armeria Maritima 'Splendens Pink') — commonly called Splendens Pink Sea Thrift

Sea Thrift

Armeria Maritima 'Splendens Pink'

Full · Zones 3–8

Griffith's Blue Leadwort (Ceratostigma Griffithii) — Blooming from late summer to fall, it reaches 18-24 inches in height and width

Griffith's Blue Leadwort

Ceratostigma Griffithii

Full · Zones 8–10