Plumbago auriculata (Cape Leadwort) is an evergreen vine to sprawling, mounding shrub boasting a profusion of beautiful sky-blue, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped flowers on short racemes over a long season. Blooming freely from spring through summer, or nearly all year in warm, frost-free locations, the blossoms are borne at the tips of slender, scandent stems bearing light green, spoon-shaped leaves. The gracefully arching branches fall over each other, producing a shrub-like mass...

Description:


Plumbago auriculata is an evergreen shrub, often grown as a climber, ascending rapidly to 6 m (20 ft) tall by 3 m (10 ft) wide in nature, though much smaller when cultivated as a houseplant.The leaves are a glossy green and grow to 5 cm (2 in) long. The stems are long, thin, and climbing. The leaves alternate and are 2-5 cm while the five petals are about 2 cm wide and can be pale blue, blue or violet in color. 

How to Grow and Care:


Water: When watering Plumbago flowers make sure to water thoroughly until all the soil around the plant(s) is moist. The plant does not require a lot of water. Allow the area to become dry before the next watering session.


Plumbagos are drought tolerant plants, they do not need watering more than twice a week during the warmer summer months. When the weather cools and fall begin, reduce watering to once per week.

Propagation:

Plumbago plant can be easily propagated using wood cuttings, so if you already have one of these plants, then you could also have an endless supply of new Blue Plumbagos to have in different areas or to gift to friends.


To propagate, you will need around a four or five-inch stem cutting from a woody part of the plant. Cut it from the mother plant using sharp shears at a 45-degree angle, creating more surface area from which roots can grow. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone to encourage the cutting to develop roots, and plant it into a small pot filled with potting soil. Keep the soil continually moist without allowing it to become wet, and place it in a shaded area. Heating the cutting from underneath will help roots to develop, though it is best to propagate this plant in the summer when temperatures are ordinarily higher.


Within four weeks your cutting should have the early stages of a root system. You will know if roots have developed if you gently tug on the cutting and feel some resistance. If the cutting can be easily pulled from the soil, then it doesn't yet have roots. Once you have evidence of roots, you can transplant the cutting to a bigger pot and let it grow into a new Blue Plumbago in its own right. When the plant reaches a good size, it can be transferred to a more permanent spot, either directly in the ground or into a container.