Plumbago
By Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6186089
Scientific Name: Plumbago auriculata
Common Names: Cape Leadwort, Blue Plumbago
Native to: South Africa
Lighting Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Height: 3-10 feet (usually only 3 ft high in Central Texas)
Width: 3-8 feet (mine gets about 4-5 ft wide)
Winter Look: Dies back to the ground
Seasonal Interest: Late spring to frost (clusters of blue or white flowers)
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; tolerates dry periods once established
Soil Requirements: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soils (tolerates rocky soil)
pH Range: 5.5 - 7.5 (acidic to neutral)
Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 8-11
Deer Resistance: Moderate; occasionally browsed by deer
Attracts: Butterflies
Some people (me) love this plant, some do not! Let me explain about the not-so-uncommon love/hate debate. I get calls every spring from clients saying their Plumbago died and must be dug up. Here's the thing though, these plants just need their beauty sleep. They will lie there in wait until everything around them gets going, then they show signs of life. Trust me, these little firecrackers are worth the wait!
I have discovered that they like a bit of azalea food from time to time. You could also just use cottonseed meal to lower the pH a bit in addition to a fertilizer with high phosphorus for the blooms.
