El ceratostigma willmottianum, also known as Chinese plumbago, is a semi-shrub that attracts attention with its blue flowers. A plant very resistant to cold, which can withstand up to -12º C.
This semi-shrub can be a good addition to your garden, since thanks to it you will enjoy a touch of color all year round. Both for its blue flowers and for the change in color of its leaves that occurs during autumn.
The false “plumbago”
The ceratostigma willmottianum is known as Chinese plumbago because it has a certain resemblance to plants of the plumbago genus, but there is no direct botanical relationship with them. There are simply physical similarities.
It is a semi-shrub native to China, where we can find it growing wild in both the southwest and the center of the country. But, due to its attractive flowering, and its ability to add color to the garden during autumn, its presence has been spreading to many parts of the world. Something to which his good ability to adapt to different environments.
What is ceratostigma willmottianum like?
This small shrub stands out for its blue flowers and its leaves that change color when autumn arrives, as we will see below in more detail.
- Foliage. The leaves of this plant are dark green and oval in shape. Being deciduous leaves, they fall during the fall, but before that happens they change color and become reddish.
- Flowers. One of the highlights of this plant is that it has bright blue flowers, whose shape is somewhat reminiscent of a star. They are flowers 1 centimeter in diameter and are grouped in clusters.
- Compact growth. It is said that this is a semi-shrub because its growth is quite compact and slow. At most, it reaches about 60 centimeters in height after a few years, and a more or less similar diameter. In its natural habitat, it can reach a meter in height.
- Woody stem. The stem of this plant tends to branch as it grows and matures.
Care to enjoy a beautiful ceratostigma willmottianum
If you want your Chinese plumbago to look its best and be as healthy as possible, it is recommended that you follow these instructions.
location and light
This plant likes light. Thrives best in locations where it receives partial sunlight for at least four hours a day. The more hours of light it has, the more abundant its flowering is.
However, in places with warm climates, it is advisable to put the plant in a place where it receives partial shade, at least during the hours when the sun shines brightest. Otherwise it could burn.
Substrate for ceratostigma willmottianum
This is one of those plants that prefer well drained soils. An accumulation of water in its roots can end up causing a fungal infestation and the Chinese plumbago to rot. He Soil pH should be close to 6.5, that is, be between slightly acidic and neutral.
You can create an ideal planting medium for this variety if you mix universal substrate with a little sand. This way you make the soil lighter, the plant can oxygenate, and it is easier for it to get rid of excess moisture after each watering.
Moderate watering
Season active growth of this plant is in spring and autumn. In those months it is convenient that the substrate is evenly moist, but without ever flooding the earth. Also during this time you can apply fertilizer to provide the plant with extra nutrients that boost its growth. Always use it following the manufacturer's instructions to avoid an adverse result.
At times of the year when ceratostigma willmottianum is in semi-dormant state, you can space out the watering more. It is enough to provide water once every 10 or 15 days.
Pruning this semi-shrub
The Chinese plumbago is a plant of slow growth, but that does not mean that pruning should be neglected. If you don't trim it periodically, it will end up looking untidy. The best thing in these cases is to prune the plant at the beginning of spring, eliminating damaged branches, cutting those that are longer than recommended, and giving the desired shape.
So that the pruning process stresses this semi-shrub as little as possible, it is important to use some special pruning scissors that are well sharpened and have been previously disinfecteds. This way we minimize the risk that the plant may contract any disease. After pruning, we clean and disinfect the scissors again and we will have them ready for future uses.
A very simple way to disinfect gardening tools is to wipe the edge with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol and dry well.
winter protection
This variety resists low temperatures quite well. But in regions with winters with extreme temperatures It is advisable to give it a little extra protection. In this case it will be enough to apply a layer of mulch at the base to prevent extreme cold from penetrating to the roots.
How is ceratostigma willmottianum spread?
The easiest way to do this is through the bush propagation, a procedure that we can tackle both in spring and autumn. The steps to take are:
- Choose a mature, healthy-looking plant.
- Dig around the mother plant very carefully and lift the root ball of soil.
- Using a shovel or a sharp, sterilized knife, divide the root ball into smaller parts. Ensuring each section has roots and shoots.
- The divisions are replanted and the care instructions we have been looking at are applied.
It is also possible to reproduction by cuttings, cutting healthy stems, submerging them for a few days in rooting hormone, and then proceeding to plant them. This is a somewhat slower process than clump propagation, but it also gives good results.
Ceratostigma willmottianum is a plant that allows us to enjoy its beauty both through its flowers and its leaves that change color. Since it is so easy to care for, it is undoubtedly a good choice for garden design. Did you already know her?