Ceratostigma griffithii

DESCRIPTION OF CERATOSTIGMA GRIFFITHII

Ceratostigma griffithii is also known by the name Plumbago birmana. It is indeed a plant belonging to the Plumbaginaceae family, therefore closely related to the common Plumbago.

Although it closely resembles its “cousin” Ceratostigma willmottianum, Ceratostigma griffithii is distinguished by the rounded shape of its leaves and its denser, more branched growth habit. This latter characteristic gives it the appearance of a denser and more compact bush compared to other types of Ceratostigma.

Ceratostigma griffithii is a bush with semi-persistent, obovate (that is, egg-shaped) and tomentose foliage (covered with fine fuzz). The aerial part of the plant tends to go into vegetative dormancy during the winter, but in spring it develops new leaves, soft to the touch and with an almost velvety texture, in a beautiful dark green color.

Ceratostigma griffithii is a plant of great ornamental value, capable of brightening up autumn with a truly unique contrast of colors. In the second part of the summer, the plant develops a splendid cobalt blue bloom, a precious and very rare color in nature. Its five-petaled flowers, rich in nectar and extremely attractive to butterflies, remain on the plant until late autumn. It is precisely during this period that the foliage takes on an intense scarlet color that contrasts with the electric blue of the flowers. Ceratostigma griffithii is therefore the perfect plant to color your garden during autumn, at that time of year when most flowers have already disappeared.

This ornamental shrub is perfect both as a supporting plant in a mixed flowerbed and as the absolute star of a single-species border.

GROWING AND MAINTAINING CERATOSTIGMA GRIFFITHII

Ceratostigma griffithii prefers light soils, but also develops well in poor and stony soils. The only essential requirement is that the soil is well-drained: it is indeed a plant that is very sensitive to waterlogging, which can damage the root system even very severely.

This species is suitable for temperate climates: although it is quite resistant to low temperatures, a winter that is too harsh could ruin the plant, preventing it from flowering the following summer. For this reason, the best thing would be to plant Ceratostigma griffithii in a position sheltered from cold north winds.

Ceratostigma griffithii develops very well in full sun but can also perform excellently in partial shade, especially in places where summers are particularly hot. It is a bush capable of easily withstanding short periods of drought, but it still needs watering during the hot months. If planted in a pot, watering must be frequent and regular.

Since Ceratostigma griffithii is not an evergreen plant, it is important to know that the aerial part goes into vegetative dormancy during the winter. This means that the plant tends to dry out completely during the colder months, but starts growing again in late spring. Because of this late growth, it is very common to get scared and suspect that the plant has not survived the winter, but do not worry: as the weeks go by, it will grow back with beautiful dark green foliage. One important thing to remember is not to water Ceratostigma griffithii during the winter, when the plant is in its vegetative dormancy phase.

As for the maintenance of Ceratostigma griffithii, it is recommended to prune between late winter and early spring, before the vegetative growth resumes. Since the flowers appear on the new branches, shortening the branches by about a quarter of their length will result in a much denser bloom.