Dark Blue, also known as Cape Leadwort, Cape Plumbago, and Plumbago auriculata, is a tender perennial flowering shrub native to South Africa. This plant offers an upright, mounding, or climbing habit that reaches 18-48" tall and 20-56" wide. Perennial and semi-evergreen in zone 9-12, Plumbago will die back to the ground at around 20 degrees, returning from the roots in the spring. In warmer regions, foliage is evergreen, and this shrubbing, climbing plant reaches the taller end of its growth potential. In cold areas, grow this plant as an annual or in a container that overwinters indoors. Dark Blue is drought tolerant and attracts butterflies with clusters of blue flowers from spring through fall. It will create an arching shrub or climb a trellis and flourishes in mass plantings or containers in full or partial sun.
Dark Blue Selling Tips
Sell Dark Blue to customers looking for a low-maintenance shrub for a border or an attractive flowering plant for a large container. Plumbago excels in full or partial sun with moderate water, offers clusters of blue flowers with dark blue stripes and semi-evergreen foliage, and attracts pollinators. Green foliage arches gracefully left untended or will climb a trellis or wall. Flowers bloom from spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant requires little more than regular water. Create a tropical garden by pairing this plant with Allamanda, Bulbine, Cape Honeysuckle, and Firebush, or create a Mediterranean landscape by growing this shrub alongside Bougainvillea, Pelargonium, and Rosemary.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants three feet apart in well-drained soil in full or partial sun.
2. Water once a week or more often in drought.
3. In zone 9-12, prune back in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth. This plant will die back to the ground when temperatures dip to 20 degrees but will return from the roots in spring. For customers in zone 2-8, grow this plant annually or in a container to overwinter in a cool, dry place after cutting it back or in a sunny indoor room without cutting it back.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Dark Blue, plant one rooted plug per container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 6.1-6.5 and light feed (100-150 ppm N). This plant isn't prone to disease or pests, although you may see scales and mites indoors.
Flowering
Clusters of blue flowers bloom from spring through fall.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
You may see scales or mites if this plant is growing indoors.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease.
Planting Dark Blue Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Plumbago Dark Blue Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
8-12 Weeks
Bloom Period
Fall, Spring, Summer
Color
Blue
Habit
Mounding, Upright, Vining
Height
18-48 Inches
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
9-11
Water Needs
Moderate
Patented Plant
No
Current Availability
Current Availability
06-23-2025 (Week 26)
0
06-30-2025 (Week 27)
0
07-07-2025 (Week 28)
0
07-14-2025 (Week 29)
0
07-21-2025 (Week 30)
0
07-28-2025 (Week 31)
0
08-04-2025 (Week 32)
0
08-11-2025 (Week 33)
0
08-18-2025 (Week 34)
0
08-25-2025 (Week 35)
0
09-01-2025 (Week 36)
0
09-08-2025 (Week 37)
0
09-15-2025 (Week 38)
0
09-22-2025 (Week 39)
0
09-29-2025 (Week 40)
0
10-06-2025 (Week 41)
0
10-13-2025 (Week 42)
0
10-20-2025 (Week 43)
0
10-27-2025 (Week 44)
1,500
11-03-2025 (Week 45)
1,400
11-10-2025 (Week 46)
1,500
11-17-2025 (Week 47)
2,100
11-24-2025 (Week 48)
2,100
12-01-2025 (Week 49)
2,100
12-08-2025 (Week 50)
2,600
12-15-2025 (Week 51)
2,600
12-22-2025 (Week 52)
2,600
12-29-2025 (Week 01)
2,800
01-05-2026 (Week 02)
2,800
01-12-2026 (Week 03)
2,600
01-19-2026 (Week 04)
1,100
01-26-2026 (Week 05)
2,600
02-02-2026 (Week 06)
2,300
02-09-2026 (Week 07)
2,400
02-16-2026 (Week 08)
2,700
02-23-2026 (Week 09)
2,000
03-02-2026 (Week 10)
2,800
03-09-2026 (Week 11)
1,900
03-16-2026 (Week 12)
3,100
Dark Blue, also known as Cape Leadwort, Cape Plumbago, and Plumbago auriculata, is a tender perennial flowering shrub native to South Africa. This plant offers an upright, mounding, or climbing habit that reaches 18-48" tall and 20-56" wide. Perennial and semi-evergreen in zone 9-12, Plumbago will die back to the ground at around 20 degrees, returning from the roots in the spring. In warmer regions, foliage is evergreen, and this shrubbing, climbing plant reaches the taller end of its growth potential. In cold areas, grow this plant as an annual or in a container that overwinters indoors. Dark Blue is drought tolerant and attracts butterflies with clusters of blue flowers from spring through fall. It will create an arching shrub or climb a trellis and flourishes in mass plantings or containers in full or partial sun.
Dark Blue Selling Tips
Sell Dark Blue to customers looking for a low-maintenance shrub for a border or an attractive flowering plant for a large container. Plumbago excels in full or partial sun with moderate water, offers clusters of blue flowers with dark blue stripes and semi-evergreen foliage, and attracts pollinators. Green foliage arches gracefully left untended or will climb a trellis or wall. Flowers bloom from spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant requires little more than regular water. Create a tropical garden by pairing this plant with Allamanda, Bulbine, Cape Honeysuckle, and Firebush, or create a Mediterranean landscape by growing this shrub alongside Bougainvillea, Pelargonium, and Rosemary.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants three feet apart in well-drained soil in full or partial sun.
2. Water once a week or more often in drought.
3. In zone 9-12, prune back in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth. This plant will die back to the ground when temperatures dip to 20 degrees but will return from the roots in spring. For customers in zone 2-8, grow this plant annually or in a container to overwinter in a cool, dry place after cutting it back or in a sunny indoor room without cutting it back.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Dark Blue, plant one rooted plug per container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 6.1-6.5 and light feed (100-150 ppm N). This plant isn't prone to disease or pests, although you may see scales and mites indoors.
Flowering
Clusters of blue flowers bloom from spring through fall.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
You may see scales or mites if this plant is growing indoors.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease.
Planting Dark Blue Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Plumbago Dark Blue Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
8-12 Weeks
Bloom Period
Fall, Spring, Summer
Color
Blue
Habit
Mounding, Upright, Vining
Height
18-48 Inches
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
9-11
Water Needs
Moderate
Patented Plant
No
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