Hardy Plumbago plant profile
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
A perennial ornamental for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Hardy Plumbago
Hardy plumbago (dwarf plumbago) is a low, spreading groundcover with gentian-blue phlox-like flowers over a long bloom from mid-summer into fall (NC State) and bronze-red fall foliage. Plant 10 to 16 inches apart in spring in well-drained, dry-to-slightly-moist soil in full sun to part shade; it spreads aggressively by rhizomes and benefits from a light winter mulch in colder zones.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Hardy Plumbago in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 10 to 16 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: mealybugs, contact dermatitis, aggressive spreading.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Hardy Plumbago, Dwarf Plumbago, Blue Leadwort)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.