Ceratostigma willmottianum ~ Chinese Plumbago

Ceratostigma willmottianum, or Chinese Plumbago has thrived without extra water or in fact much care at all in my inland Southern California garden once it was established. Ceratostigma willmottianum grows in full sun and will still bloom in light shade. Chinese Plumbago grows 18-24 inches tall. Ceratostigma willmottianum slowly spreads by underground runners. Not much stops it, curbs, asphalt . . . the Plumbago will find a way through eventually. Regular traffic does keep it contained and it is easy enough to trim. If you want a tough plant with blue flowers that needs little or no help from the gardener Ceratostigma willmottianum is hard to beat. Chinese Plumbago has a long blooming period from late Spring often into Fall. Ceratostigma willmottianum will suffer from frost when temperatures dip into the low 20's but has always come back from those darn roots, even into the upper teens. Leaves redden in the Fall if the frost comes on steadily. A quick hard frost will brown out everything to the ground.