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Ceratostigma griffithii

Ceratostigma griffithii
Griffith's plumbago, Himalayan Leadwort

5,0/5
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Hello, the young plant did not take and has completely disappeared. Yet it wasn't a small pot but a 3-litre one! Planted on a dry bank to enhance the slope and keep company with a corkscrew hazel at the top, and properly watered over the summer, I'm disappointed.

Angelique Sebastiao, 04/03/2026

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This bushy, branched shrub bears very vivid blue flowers from August-September to October, and its foliage takes on beautiful red shades in autumn. Drought-tolerant once established, it tolerates chalky soil. Grow it in sun, in well-drained soil, which is essential for its survival over winter. Its stump can withstand −12 to −15 °C in these conditions, but its branches may freeze. The foliage remains in winter in mild climates.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
90 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Dry resistance
Very good
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May
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Flowering time August to October
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Description

Ceratostigma griffithii, or Griffith's plumbago, is an appealing shrub valued for its particularly vivid blue late flowering and its excellent tolerance of summer drought. It produces small flowers until the first frosts, while its foliage takes on red and purple hues. A beautiful late-season plant for regions that are not too cold, it belongs in sunny beds and dry gardens.

Ceratostigma griffithii belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family, like the other plumbagos. This botanical species is native to south-western Tibet, Bhutan and northern Myanmar. It is notably found in warm Himalayan valleys, between 2,200 and 2,800 m above sea level. In the garden, it needs warmth and soil that allows water to drain away, especially in winter. Over a few years, this plant forms a dense, spreading bush with woody branches, reaching 60 to 80 cm in height and 80 cm to 1 m in spread. It can exceed these dimensions in deep soil that is favourable to its development. The young reddish-brown shoots bear a fine covering of rusty hairs. The leaves, 2 to 4 cm long, are oval to obovate, broader towards the tip, and hairy on both surfaces. Green and often finely edged with reddish colouring, they turn red in autumn. The foliage is semi-evergreen: it remains on the plant in mild winters, but may fall under the effect of somewhat more severe frosts. The flowers, less than 1.5 cm in diameter, are grouped at the ends of the branches and in the axils of the leaves. Each one has a narrow tube ending in five spreading lobes, of a very vivid blue and surrounded by reddish bracts. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies. The flowers form on the current year's shoots, so a plant whose branches have been killed by frost can flower again after regrowing its branches. More distinctly shrubby and hairy than Ceratostigma willmottianum, this Ceratostigma also differs from C. plumbaginoides, a low-growing, rhizomatous perennial. Its well-established crown can withstand −12 to −15 °C at its lowest in well-drained soil; the foliage and branches are more sensitive to cold.

Ceratostigma griffithii is particularly beautiful in Mediterranean gardens or in warm, sunny regions. It works well in large beds combining shrub roses, small shrubs and drought-tolerant perennials. Pair it with China rose 'Old Blush', the bright pink shrubby sage Salvia microphylla grahamii and ‘Majorca Pink’ rosemary. The blue of its flowers complements the various shades of pink, while the foliage provides varied textures. In autumn, the red and purple hues of Griffith's plumbago complement its last flowers. It also has a place in a large rock garden, on a dry bank or at the foot of a sunny wall. 

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Ceratostigma, Chinese Plumbago: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 10 min.
Ceratostigma, Chinese Plumbago: planting, pruning and care
Read article

Ceratostigma griffithii in pictures

Ceratostigma griffithii (Flowering) Flowering
Ceratostigma griffithii (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 90 cm
Habit irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time August to October
Flower size 1 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Ceratostigma

Species

griffithii

Family

Plumbaginaceae

Other common names

Griffith's plumbago, Himalayan Leadwort

Origin

Himalayas

Product reference • 846221

Planting and care

Plant Ceratostigma griffithii in sun, in a warm position sheltered from cold winds. It tolerates acidic, neutral or chalky soils. Loose, reasonably deep soil encourages rooting; loamy or chalky clay soil is perfectly suitable, provided it does not remain waterlogged in winter. Good drainage is its main requirement.
Plant from March to May in regions with cold winters, or in September-October, when the rains return, in Mediterranean climates. Water regularly while it establishes, then space out watering as it roots in. Once established, this shrub is highly resistant to summer drought. A few well-spaced waterings during a particularly dry summer can support flowering. In cold regions, mulch protects the crown in winter. It may start into growth late in spring: the appearance of new shoots makes it possible to identify branches that have been damaged by frost.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting spacing Every 90 cm
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Very dry, Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions Prune in spring, after the hard frosts. Remove the dead branches, and shorten the retained shoots to maintain a bushy, branched habit. If all the branches have been damaged by frost, cut the dry stems close to the ground as soon as new shoots appear.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March to April
Soil moisture Very dry, Dry soil, Moist soil
Dry resistance Very good
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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