Ceratostigma grow and care – subshrub to shrub of the genus Ceratostigma also known as Leadwort, Plumbago, Ceratostigma perennial evergreen or cold deciduous can grow as annual in colder climates, used as ornamental ground cover and drought tolerant plant, can grow in subtropics, mediterranean, desert, temperate, tropics climate or indoor as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 7a+, and with the right over winter care in hardiness zone 6.
Leaves color green and next to the flowers the leaves become red or purple.
Ceratostigma flower
Flower color blue or purple with five petals, the flowers grows in clusters.
How to care: Add mulch especially in the summer and winter, put fertilize in spring
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction – start by cutting for stems put the stem, better peat soil but possible other soil like potting mix, take care to have moist soil and high humidity, better to start cutting in the spring but possible to do it as long as the temperature above 25C (77F)
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No. but easier start by cutting that to start by seeds
Difficulties or problems when growing: Invasive, aggressive, and poisonous
Planting season: Spring in cold hardiness zone 6-8, spring to summer in hardiness zone 9-10a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11a,
How to plant: Dig hole bigger than the plant 100% more than the roots ball, put some organic matter, dead leaves, humus and mix it with the soil
Pests and diseases: Aphids, spider mites
Pruning season: All year
How to prune: Just for design and dead flowers
Size of the plant? 20-90 cm, 8-36 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade / Full Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? Yes
Growing is also possible in a pots, planter, flowerpot or containers: Yes, start with container that bigger than the plant at least 200%, use potting mix or peat soil with perlite and mix it with hummus and organic matter, use chopped mulch to keep the soil moist, let the bottom of the pot fill in water but dry in the same day, drainage of the soil is important and need to make enough holes, the size of the pot will define the size of the plants, possible to grow it in container of 5L to 10L minimum and shallow pot, in order to grow the plant in small container need to take care to cut the roots and every year or two and let the plant regrow to the same size if won’t pruned and the roots will overgrow the plant won’t bloom and grow.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer / Autumn
General information about the flower: Blue or purple flowers with five petals, the flowers grows in clusters
