Cape leadwort (plumbago) Plumbago auriculata
Cape leadwort (plumbago) (Plumbago auriculata) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Plumbaginaceae family, native to Eastern Cape coast and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It grows 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) tall and 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Cape leadwort (plumbago) in your garden →
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Cape leadwort (plumbago) at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Plumbaginaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 21–43 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Eastern Cape coast and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Cape leadwort (plumbago) toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: sap, leaves
Plumbagin in the sap can irritate skin; ingestion is not well documented.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Cape leadwort (plumbago)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Cape leadwort (plumbago) in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Kirstenbosch (7 plants)
Questions about Cape leadwort (plumbago)
- How far apart should I plant Cape leadwort (plumbago)?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft).
- Does Cape leadwort (plumbago) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Cape leadwort (plumbago) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Cape leadwort (plumbago)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Cape leadwort (plumbago) flower?
- From about May for 21–43 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Cape leadwort (plumbago) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Plumbagin in the sap can irritate skin; ingestion is not well documented.
- What grows well with Cape leadwort (plumbago)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Cape leadwort (plumbago). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
- Frost cuts it to the ground but it usually resprouts in zone 9; sprawling habit, often trained as a hedge or against a wall.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Thrift (sea pink) Armeria maritima
- Statice (wavyleaf sea lavender) Limonium sinuatum
- Chinese plumbago (Willmott’s blue leadwort) Ceratostigma willmottianum
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius