Plumbago
Sky-blue flowers on a soft, sprawling shrub that blooms nearly all year and feeds the butterflies.
Sprawling shrub covered in clusters of sky-blue phlox-like flowers.
Why it works here
Plumbago is one of the easiest ways to get true sky-blue color in a Florida garden, and it blooms much of the year in our warmth. It sprawls into a soft mound, so it works as an informal hedge, a bank cover, or a filler that spills over a wall. It is drought tolerant once rooted in, which suits our sandy soil and dry season. There is also a wildlife bonus: it is a host plant for cassius blue and marine blue butterflies, so you get caterpillars and blooms in one plant.
Care
Water regularly the first few months, then it needs very little, which is part of its charm. Feed lightly with compost and a balanced organic fertilizer in spring if you want to push growth and flowering, but do not overdo it. Mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. Prune whenever it gets rangy, since it takes a hard cutback well and comes back bushier and covered in flowers. A white-flowered form exists, but the blue is the classic.
Common problems
Legginess is the main complaint: left alone it gets sprawling and open, so cut it back hard once or twice a year to keep it full. Cold can brown it back in a hard freeze, but it resprouts from the base. It is otherwise close to trouble-free, with few serious pests. If it stops blooming, the usual cause is too much shade, so move it to more sun.
Common questions
How do I keep plumbago from getting messy?
Prune it hard. It sprawls by nature, so cut it back by a third or more once or twice a year and it rebounds bushier and blooms heavily on the new growth.
Is it really that drought tolerant?
Once established, yes. Water it well for the first few months to get roots down, then it gets by on very little, which makes it a good pick for a low-water spot in full sun.
Does it attract butterflies?
It does. It is a host plant for cassius blue and marine blue butterflies, so besides the flowers you may see their small caterpillars feeding on it. That is a good sign, not a pest.
Interested in a plumbago in your landscape?
We plan, install, and care for it. Start with a paid consultation.