Ceratostigma griffithii

Hardy plumbago is a superb substitution for its tender relative common in the Mediterranean. There are only a few hardy species suitable for continental climate of Central Europe and similar (USDA zone 6), such as Griffith's leadwort, also called Burmese plumbago. It comes from the Himalayas and forms semi-woody shrubs.

Griffith's leadwort is a late summer flowering plant with numerous, small, 5-petalled, sky blue flowers from late August until autumn. They are borne in clusters at the tips of purple red twigs. Deciduous leaves are dark green, oval to broadly ovate, covered with short and stiff hairs, and margins are purple red. In early autumn they turn burgundy red while the plant keeps flowering. The shrub is low, prostrate, rounded but somewhat misshaped.

Grow hardy plumbago in a sheltered position with plenty of sunlight. It is soil tolerant but does best in light, semi-fertile, well drained soil. It is often used in larger rockeries. In spring after all frost prune back all branched down to ground level. It will emerge from the roots. Hardiness trialled and confirmed to -24°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 10-09-2018