Plumbago
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6 to 10 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Vivid cobalt-blue flowers late summer; foliage turns red in fall.
On the CSU listlow water6 to 10 in tall and 12 to 18 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Marco Mussita, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: no rights reserved
- Photo 3: (c) Marco Mussita, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 4: Denis.prévôt, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 5: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 6: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5 to 9
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hot south- or west-facing walls
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 6 to 10 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~13 to 18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid summer, early fall
- Bloom color
- blue
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Fall color
- Red
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed. It spreads by underground rhizomes into a mat, so give it room or edge it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Plumbago good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Plumbago is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Plumbago get?
- It matures to about 6 to 10 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Plumbago?
- Space Plumbago about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Plumbago hardy on the Front Range?
- Plumbago is hardy in USDA 5 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants.
- How much water does Plumbago need?
- It needs low water once established.
- What color does Plumbago turn in fall?
- Plumbago turns red in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Plumbago native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Plumbago a good firewise plant near the house?
- Plumbago is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- How long does Plumbago bloom?
- Plumbago blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
