# blue plumbago (*Plumbago auriculata*) Blue plumbago is a lovely shrub with bright blue flowers that bloom all summer long. It loves sunny spots and can grow in gardens or along paths, making the world a little more colorful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![blue plumbago](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plumbago.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Calvin Teo assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plumbago.jpg) ## Appearance The blue plumbago is a scrambling shrub with slender, woody stems and ovate, bright green leaves. It has clusters of sky-blue, phlox-like flowers, each with five petals and a distinctive tube, making it easily recognizable with its vivid color. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Plumbaginaceae - **Genus:** Plumbago ## Interesting facts - Its vibrant blue flowers are a rare color in the plant world, making them truly special! - Some butterflies lay their eggs right on plumbago leaves because their caterpillars love to munch them! - The name 'Plumbago' might come from an ancient belief it could cure lead poisoning or eye ailments! - This amazing plant can grow super fast, creating a beautiful blue cascade in just one growing season! ## Special abilities - **Scrambling Climber:** Blue plumbago can use its long, flexible stems to scramble over other plants or structures, helping it reach more sunlight and thrive. - **Sticky Seed Spreader:** Blue plumbago has sticky glands on its seed pods that can cling to animal fur, helping it spread its seeds far and wide. - **Drought Survivor:** Blue plumbago can survive dry spells due to its robust root system and ability to store water, thriving where others might wilt. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-300 cm - **Spread:** 90-180 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — sips nectar while transferring pollen between blooms. - **Eaten by:** Cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — sucks sap from the plant's new shoots and leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching plants, just to be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify blue plumbago? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is blue plumbago? 90-300 cm ### How wide does blue plumbago spread? 90-180 cm ### How big are the flowers on blue plumbago? 2-3 cm ### When does blue plumbago bloom? Year-round ### Is blue plumbago edible? No ### Is blue plumbago toxic? Mild ### What is blue plumbago's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-presidio-de-santa-barbara-state-historic-park) — California, US · Historic Site - [Warm Springs Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/warm-springs-park) — California, US · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Blue Plumbago: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-plumbago)