Hardy plumbago
Ceratostigma willmottianum
Also called Chinese plumbago, Ceratostigma and Leadwort
Garden plant · ShrubsTrue blue flowers in September, which almost nothing else has, on a low twiggy shrub whose leaves go red at the same time. It comes into leaf so late in spring that people cut it out as dead. Wait until June.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 1 m tall · 1.5 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Western China
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.