Ceratostigma Plumbagnoides 2L

Ceratostigma Plumbagnoides 2L This spreading, deciduous shrub brings welcome colour to the garden in late summer and early autumn when many other flowers have gone over. Masses of disc-shaped, vivid blue flowers appear from August to October, complimenting the green stems and leaves with their purple margins. These leaves turn russet-red and orange and look spectacular with each fiery shoot ending in a bunch of these cobalt-blue blooms. The Chinese plumbago is a sub-shrub and is partway between a shrub and a perennial where in some years it dies right down to the ground while in others, the top growth stays all winter, making a framework for the following year. Originally a Chinese native, the flowers have the same round form as plumbago - hence Chinese plumbago - and it's best planted towards the front of a sheltered, sunny border in soil that does not get too dry. Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for stunning displays for many years to come. Supplied as an established plant in a 2L pot, Chinese Plumbago will reach approximately 1m (3ft 3in) tall x 1.5m (5ft) wide. Planting Advice for your Ceratostigma willmotianum 'Chinese Plumbago': Best grown in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Improve drainage by digging grit or gravel into heavy clay soil. Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the shrub you're planting and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill one the shrub is in place. We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through. Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain. Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots. Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker. Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot. Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling) and firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball. Water well and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc. If youre planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast. Use the best compost you can buy and some sand or grit for drainage. Aftercare advice for Chinese Plumbago: Keep plants well-watered while they establish, especially if planted up in a pot. Pruning Advice for Ceratostigma willmotianum: Remove frost-damaged shoots in late spring, tidying up old and broken wood at the same time. Specifications Ideal For:  Pots/Borders/Beds Flowers:  August - October Position:  Full Sun/Partial Shade Height/Spread:  100cm x 50cm Hardiness:  Fully Hardy Supplied as: An established plant in a 2L pot, Chinese Plumbago will reach approximately 1m (3ft 3in) tall x 1.5m (5ft) wide Contents 1 x Plant back to top