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Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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Posted by
mycitygarden NY5 (
My Page) on
Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 5:51
Folks,
I am planting a shade garden in the back part of my property next spring & wanted to use ceratostigma plumbaginoides (aka leadwort or plumbago). Its colors are GORGEOUS in the fall! My site is fairly protected b/c it's a city lot w/ lots of houses nearby. If I were to plant plumbago & it did "wander," how easy is it to rip up? Perhaps it wouldn't be as invasive in a Zone 5 site? (it's listed as Zone 5-9). I don't want to give it up but I also don't believe in maintenance heavy gardens. Suggestions? Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| It is no more invasive than many other groundcovers and a lot less of a problem than many other more aggressively spreading plants. In zone 5, overwintering is even iffy unless well mulched, so I doubt you should be faced with much of a problem. And while it would appreciate some midday sun protection in hot climates, Ceratostigma is not really a shade lover so how well it might spread in a very shady planting area is up for discussion. I have never found it a problem to remove where it was not wanted. |
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| Don't really know about Zone 5, but here in 7 it is certainly NOT invasive. As a matter of fact, it is a rather slow increasing plant, and I have been waiting 3 years for it to make a real show, which it has yet to do. I keep waiting. George |
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| Thanks so much for responding so quickly gardengal & geoforce! I'm getting a mite discouraged about this seemingly wonderful groundcover. It just looked so colorful in the fall pictures on the web with its blue flowers and chartreuse/red leaves! We are talking about the same plant--ceratostigma plumbaginoides, yes? I saw yesterday that pictures of just leadwort & likewise for just plumbago (minus its latin name) didn't look quite the same. Are they all the same family? At the very least I'll try one plant & see how it goes next spring. No harm in doing that! It is quite shady back there in my back of the lot, although it's all pretty much dappled shade/shade. |
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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Ceratostigma plumbaginoides less likely will develop burgundy/red color in a shade. I had it for several years in such conditions and while it was blooming it never did anything in a terms of foliage and didn't spread too much.
As soon as it was moved to sun/ part-sun location it really took off and right now I have a fantastic display of flowers and a foliage. |
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| OK, that's it. Too bad it's not going to happen but at least I have a whole winter to decide what IS going into this shade garden. Thanks, all! |
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| I'd consider Gaultheria procumbens, wintergreen, for a good shade groundcover. Evergreen, spreads nicely but manageably, produces small, pinky-white flowers followed by large, bright red, edible berries and the foliage will take on colors similar to that of the leadwort in late fall or with cold weather. |
Here is a link that might be useful: wintergreen showing the beginning of winter color
RE: Is leadwort/plumbago that invasive in Zone 5?
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| Now wait a minute Mycity... Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I have this plant growing in 4 locations in my yard, all get partial sun, some more and some less. I still gets a nice flush of red in the fall and those BLUE flowers are fabulous and it's definately not invasive. Live dangerously! Go for it! |
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