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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid fall. Form: Spreading or horizontal.

Physical Characteristics

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Soil stabilization

An excellent ground cover between shrubs, at the front of the border and in a sunny rock garden[200]. Plants are used to stabilize steep banks in warm climates[200].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Erosion control, Foundation, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen. Prefers a light moderately fertile and retentive soil with good drainage, though it tolerates poor dry soils[200]. Requires a sunny position[200]. The plant has an invasive root system and can spread freely when well suited[233]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in the spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Beijing Shi, Henan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Ceratostigma willmottianum	Chinese Plumbago, Chinese Leadwort	Shrub	1.0	6-9	M	LM	N	DM	0	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

Bunge.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


	Thu Aug 7 10:00:12 2003

A person who had been growing C. plumbaginoides for several years said the plant is extremely disease-resistant. This motivated me to get one because I'm rather tired of slugs and insects eating my plants. My plant looks quite healthy and its tiny blue flowers are beginning to bloom. I tasted a leaf, which wasn't bad, but wasn't tasty either.

I would rate this plant a 5, not a 1, because websites report it to be culinary and medicinal. Another common name for the plant is "Lead Plant" because of its ability to detoxify the body of lead. This alone would give the plant a rating of 5.

COMMENTS--USING PLANTS TO DETOX HEAVY METALS, & LEAD SCARE: Plants such as C. plumbaginoides, cilantro, chlorella, etc. can detox/cleanse people of mercury, lead, and other heavy metals. So why the lead scare, and not mercury scare? (Dental fillings can be 50% mercury). Lead is the only metal that will block the information from a biochip (computer chip). This biochip is planned to be implanted the back of one's hand or into the forehead. It will have the 666 coding--the same coding that merchandise carries. The 1st, middle, and last double lines on the bar code on most items you buy, for example, is 666. The social security number will be part of this human ID code.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - Bunge.