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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Summer Blue

Fond childhood memories come to mind whenever I see shrubs of Plumbago (auriculata). Inevitably as children, in the course of outdoor play times, we would track around with remnants of leaves and blue petals stuck to our clothing.
The fuzzy hairs on the buds of the flowers are sticky. Just enough to help them disperse their seeds but lightly enough that the petals and leaves stuck to clothing can easily be picked off.
Hedge rows of these whimsical, easily grown shrubs in the back part of the property that used to bloom beautifully are receiving too much shade as the oak trees continue to mature. Plumbago prefer dry, well draining soil with lots of sunshine to bloom their best.
If you look all the way down to the end of the northside berm in the above photo you can see a lone Plumbago bush growing in a container pot. I'm using its long, arching branches to hide the pump for the well. It is happy there because the container dries out between waterings and ample sunshine gives it the energy to bloom profusely.

Blue flowers seem to be a popular favorite for gardeners and blue Plumbago is about as true a blue as I know of for this region.

It's nice that the butterflies like them for nectaring; they are host plant for cassius blue larva.

13 comments:

  1. Such a pretty plant. I have cypress vine trying to smother mine as I type. I'll be taking care of that in the morning though.

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  2. I love blues in the gardens and plumbago is one of my favorites. I should try to root some cuttings for more. I love the little blue casia butterflies that visit the blooms, (I think that's what they are).

    I always love seeing pictures of your wonderful gardens.

    FlowerLady

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  3. Those are gorgeous blues...that butterfly is lovely too!!

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  4. BEAUTIFUL! It all looks so wonderful. Love the new header to your blog too!!

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  5. What a beautiful sky blue bloom. This is definitely a keeper. I see that the butterflies concur. Your garden looks so healthy.

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  6. Meems: You are so right about this is the true blue flower I can see so far. You captured that blue hue so beautifully in your picture.

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  7. The plumbago that was here when we bought the house is under a jatropha tree. Now it grows through the limbs. I don't have the heart to cut it way back in the summer. I love the blue and red combination. There were several cassius blues here earlier this summer.

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  8. I agree with you, Meems, it is an easy and lovely plant. I'm partial to blue, so it has a home here.
    Enjoy your weekend. More rain!

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  9. The plumbago is such a cheerful bloom and I like it even more because it is just not fussy at all. Loved that mind-picture of a younger Meems walking around adorned with plumbago stuck to you. I still do it all the time!

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  10. I didn't know about the butterflies and plumbago. I have plumbago around the front of the house but the butterflies prefer the lantana. Or maybe, it's because my lantana has more blooms than the plumbago. Mine definitely doesn't bloom as much as yours.

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  11. I like plumbago though I have none planted right now. As a child it was the favorite plants for the dogs to romp in-they always had flowers stuck on their coats!

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  12. Plumbago is a very pretty blue. Do you ever see hummers on it? They love my neighbor's bush and that surprised me, but I guess they like blue, too! :)

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  13. I can remember plumbago with such fondness. I had lots of it in Tampa!! Now I'm in Oklahoma and it has been so so hot and dry nothing has stayed pretty! Thanks for the fond memories!!

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


September 2010

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