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Cape Leadwort

Plumbago auriculata (plum-BAY-go aw-rik-yoo-LAY-tah)

Family: Plumbaginaceae Non-native Vine (vertical)

Cape plumbago can be grown as an annual, or in a container as a perennial, that is brought indoors and placed in a bright sunny room for the colder months. Water container plants sparingly in the winter. If treating as a perennial, cut back in late winter to encourage new growth for the upcoming season. It can also be cut back in the winter and stored in a cool, dark environment. The white, blue or pink flowers are in a terminal cluster, tubular, 5-parted with spreading lobes. In the right environment, it will flower year-round. Although technically a shrub, with a little assistance it can be trained to perform like a vine. Its arching branches will need tying. If the plant becomes leggy, it can be cut back to control. It has a suckering habit. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can cause contact dermatitis so wear gloves when handling the plant. More information on Plumbago .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 54 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Ceratostigma willmottianum
Fills a similar niche Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' Salvia rosmarinus Verbena canadensis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Herbaceous Perennial; Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub; Vine
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2 in. pale green leaves; alternate, simple, not toothed
Flower color
Blue; Pink; White
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
A cluster of soft blue, pinkish, or white phlox-like flowers on new growth from summer to fall
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit detail
Barbed, sticky fruit capsules
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mozambique to South Africa
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#salt tolerant #evergreen #heat tolerant #drought tolerant #showy flowers #showy fruits #contact dermatitis #blue flowers #tropical #tropical feel #tropical shrub
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis
Resistant to
Salt
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! Irritation, redness, and blistering following contact.
Toxic principle
Plumbagin, a quinone
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.