Family PLUMBAGINACEAE
Genus Plumbago
Species zeylanica
SA Plant Number
Basionym Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica is a very hardy, evergreen, scrambling shrub with pale green leaves that have grey-green undersides. It bears umbels of pretty white flowers that close at night from November to April.

It is a butterfly host plant and attracts insects to the garden.

The flowers are edible and can be used to decorate food and drink.

The long arching stems can be trained into an attractive climber that does not get out of hand. It also looks beautiful cascading over rocks or a retaining wall.

This is a useful small shrub for sun or semi-shade.

Size 0,5 to 1m

Butterfly Host Plant: Plumbago zeylanica is a butterfly host plant

Landscaping: A very useful small shrub. It can be trained into a creeper that does not get out of hand, or trimmed to make a neat small shrub. It can also be left to cascade beautifully on slopes and over retaining walls.

Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo

Natural Habitat Deciduous woodland, in scrub and grassland, as well as near termite mounds, lakes and river margins.

Growth Rate: Fast Growing, Hardiness - Frost: Frost Hardy, Plant Type: Shrub - Small, Position: Semi-shade, Position: Sun - Afternoon, Position: Sun - Full, Position: Sun - Morning, Soil: Loamy - Compost rich Soil, Soil: Well-drained, Garden Uses: Butterfly Host, Garden Uses: Container Plant, Garden Uses: Local to Gauteng, Garden Uses: Retaining wall blocks, Garden Uses: Rockeries and retaining walls, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Hardiness - Drought: Drought Hardy, Flower colour: White - Cream, Garden type: Arid garden, Garden type: Bushclumps, Garden type: Cottage Garden, Garden type: Grassland Garden, Garden type: Rainwater Harvesting Garden, Garden type: River-side and Stream-side Gardens, Garden type: Rocky outcrop and Koppie Gardens,

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