Hardy Blue-Flowered Leadwort | Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - Height Width 15-25cm - 2lt

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, commonly known as hardy plumbago or leadwort, is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant native to China. It is prized for its vibrant blue flowers and attractive autumn foliage, making it a popular choice in UK gardens.

This hardy plant typically grows to a height of 30-45 cm, forming a dense, mat-like ground cover. Its slender, wiry stems bear oval, mid-green leaves that turn a rich red or bronze in autumn, providing a striking contrast to its late-summer blooms. From August through to October, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides produces clusters of vivid cobalt-blue, five-petalled flowers, which resemble those of the plumbago plant, hence its common name.

This plant thrives in well-drained soil, preferring full sun to partial shade, although it can tolerate a range of soil types, including poorer, rocky conditions. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established, and its creeping habit makes it ideal for planting at the front of borders, in rock gardens, or as ground cover beneath shrubs. In milder regions of the UK, it may remain evergreen, though it typically dies back in colder areas, regrowing from its roots in spring.

This plant is low-maintenance and is also beneficial for pollinators, attracting bees and other insects with its nectar-rich blooms.

Overall, this plant is a versatile, attractive addition to gardens, offering months of interest with its late-season flowers and colourful foliage, especially when other plants have begun to fade for the winter.