Plumbago auriculata
Description Plumbago is an evergreen shrub with whip-like semiwoody stems that form a loose, rounded mound 3-10 ft (0.9-3 m)high with a similar spread. Plumbago can be pruned to grow like a vine and scramble over supports, or pruned into a more compact mounded shrub, or left to sprawl with its long, gracefully arching branches. The 2 in (5 cm) oblong leaves are a fresh, light yellowish green color. The sky blue flowers are 1 in (2.5 cm) long tubes expanding into 5 petals spreading about 1 in across. The flowers are borne in rounded terminal clusters 6 in (15 cm) across and look quite a bit like phlox flowers. Plumbago blooms all year long except for the coldest winter months. A white flowered variety ( P. auriculata var. alba ) is available. The cultivar, 'Royal Cape' has intense cobalt blue flowers. Location Plumbago auriculata is native to South Africa, and is a popular ornamental in subtropical gardens in Florida, California and similar warm-winter climates...