How to Grow Plumbago (Cape Leadwort)
Plumbago auriculata
Plumbago thrives in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established but flowers best with regular water during the growing season. Feed monthly spring to autumn. Hard prune in late winter since flowers form on new wood. Frost-tender; protect below -2C or grow in containers to overwinter under cover. Tie in to supports if training as a climber.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season (spring to autumn). Reduce feeding in winter.
Watch For
- Whitefly
- Mealybug
- Spider mites in dry conditions
- Root rot in waterlogged soil
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun to light shade
Flowers most prolifically in full sun (6+ hours direct). Tolerates light shade but flowering is reduced. Ideal against a warm south or west-facing wall.
Watering
Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, plumbago is drought-tolerant but flowers best with occasional deep watering in dry summer spells. Avoid waterlogging.
Fertilizing
Monthly balanced feed spring to autumn
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during the growing season. These are greedy plants that respond well to regular feeding with more vigorous growth and prolonged flowering.
Pruning
Hard prune in late winter; flowers on new wood
Cut back hard to 15-30 cm from the base in late winter before new growth starts. Flowers form on current season's growth, so hard pruning encourages maximum flowering. Remove spent flower clusters during summer to encourage repeat blooming.
Spacing
90-150 cm apart
Space 90 cm for hedging, 120-150 cm for free-standing specimens. Allow room for the arching, spreading habit which can reach 2-3 m in all directions.
Support
Tie in to trellis if training as climber
Plumbago does not self-cling. If training against a wall or fence, provide a trellis or wires and tie in new growth regularly. Without support it forms a broad mounding shrub.
Growing Tips
Flowers on new wood
Plumbago blooms on current season's growth. Hard prune in late winter to promote vigorous new shoots and maximum flowering.
Train or let sprawl
Naturally a sprawling shrub. Tie stems to a trellis for a climbing habit, or let it mound as ground cover. Either way, it flowers prolifically.
Drought-tolerant once established
Water regularly for the first season. Once roots are settled, plumbago handles dry spells well but flowers best with occasional deep watering in summer.
Frost protection is essential
Damaged by temperatures below -2C. In borderline areas, grow in a container to move under cover, or protect in situ with fleece and thick mulch over the root zone.
