Plumbago is a perennial grown for its blue blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11, shrugs off deer, shrugs off dry spells, and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and butterflies.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5.5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Plumbago is
Plumbago grows as a perennial and reaches around six feet at maturity. It blooms blue in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Plumbago
Plumbago grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Plumbago does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
6 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant plumbago in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Plumbago prefers pH 5.5 to 7 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut plumbago blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — plumbago isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Plumbago offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Plumbago thrives
Plumbago is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Plumbago growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Plumbago can grow in these states:
See if Plumbago will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether plumbago actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Plumbago in my zone?
Plumbago grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Plumbago?
Most growers plant plumbago after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Plumbago need?
Plumbago needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Plumbago need?
Plumbago prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Plumbago attract pollinators?
Yes — plumbago's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and butterflies.
Is Plumbago safe for pets?
Plumbago is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)