The species-rich plumwort family provides us with lush flowering ornamental plants for beds and balconies. A very special species of leadwort also develops its sky-blue flowers in the shade garden. You can find out here which leadwort flower beauty presents itself as a shade plant.
Which plumwort tolerates shade?
TheChinese leadwort(Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is the only garden-suitable plumbago species that is suitable for a location in the shade. The perennial is native to East Asia, northern and central China. Read these horticulturally interesting features:
- Growth habit: creeping, forms woody runners.
- Growth height: 15 cm to 30 cm.
- Foliage: summer green, copper-red autumn color.
- Flowering time: August to October with sky blue cup flowers.
- Forest compatibility: hardy down to -35° Celsius.
Which leadwort does not tolerate shade?
Most plumwort species aresun worshipers and do not tolerate shade. At most partial shade is tolerated. This includes the frost-sensitive climbing plant Cape Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) for the balcony box on the south side. The conditionally hardy European Plumbago (Plumbago europaea) sets decorative accents as an opulent subshrub in pots and full-sun rock gardens. The leadwort plants respond to a place in the shade with stunted growth and sparse flowers.
Tip
Leadwort can overwinter in the shade
As part of overwintering, Cape plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) and European plumbago (Plumbago europaea) give up their aversion to shade. If stored in good time, the frost-sensitive perennials ideally overwinter in a bright and cool place at 5° to 8° Celsius. In the shady winter quarters, evergreen leadwort species shed their leaves. After pruning in spring, the leafless perennials sprout again.
