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Information about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld |
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Plumbago
Plumbago auriculata and other Plumbago species, hybrids and cultivars
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Vigorous and easy to grow in full sun in SE Qld., plumbago has the big advantage of being drought-tolerant and quick growing.
Thin cane-like stems produce a loose mounding shrub which can climb or scramble if it has support nearby. It can be kept shrubby with a hard cut back from time to time (after a flowering flush) although its not well suited to a mixed shrubbery. Try it as an informal hedge.
Good for tough spots, give it space and allow it to cascade over a retaining wall or down a sunny bank. In smaller gardens, train it up a fence or trellis to create a wall of flower. Alternatively, grow in a large container where it can spill over but be easily controlled.
Suitable for cottage and hertitage gardens, particularly the traditional cultivars with soft blue or white (Plumbago auriculata 'Alba') flowers. The cultivar 'Royal Cape' (syn. 'Monott') has a brighter blue flower and is very popular and widely available. Because they are so floriferous, the plumbagos are ideal for white or blue colour-schemed gardens.
Plumbago capenis is a synonym of Plumbago auriculata. There is a native species: Plumbago zeylanica, which also occurs in SE Asia.
Plumbago was the featured plant in the 16-01-2026 edition of Get Results Gardening, a weekly publication for Australians via email. When you request a free trial (go calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html for more information), you can also ask for a copy of the 16-01-2026 edition if you want to see the plumbago article (Australian residents only).
Where to buy Plumbago
The common varieties should be easy to find in most garden centres.
More unusual cultivars or species may be harder to obtain. If you operate a business (including mail order or online nursery) supplying Plumbago plants for sale to the public in Queensland, you can advertise in this section. Those selling rare types are especially urged to advertise. Information for advertisers.
Plumbago in the Landscape
Examples of plumbago in different locations and pruning treatments. Click for a larger image.
Plumbago can scramble with suitable support.
Plumbago on a slope that would otherwise be difficult to mow.
Looking for more information about growing plumbago in Queensland? Although new images will be added as they come to hand, other information is now mostly reserved the email publication (mini-magazine) Get Results Gardening. This is due to the demise of online advertising and increasing appropriation of public content by AI. If you live in Australia, ask for a free trial of Get Results Gardening. Go to calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html for more information. At the same time, you can ask for a copy of the 16-01-2026 edition, which contained an article about plumbago.
 ABN 38 518 961 623 |
