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Ceratostigma willmottianum

Common name:	Chinese Plumbago	Family:	Plumbaginaceae
Author:	Stapf.	Botanical references:	11, 200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - W. China to Tibet.
Habitat:	Warm valleys at forest edges or in thickets; 700--3500 m. Gansu (Wen Xian), W Guizhou, S and W Sichuan, SE Xizang, E and N Yunnan[266].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Plumbago [H],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Plumbaginales. Leadwort family

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 1m by 1m . It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Bach.

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Distrust of self', 'Doubt of one's ability' and 'Foolishness'[209].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a light moderately fertile and retentive soil with good drainage, though it tolerates poor dry soils[200] and grows well on chalk[11]. Requires a sunny position[11, 200].
Plants are not fully hardy in Britain, especially if treated as shrubs, but if treated as herbaceous perennials they succeed outdoors in areas where winter temperatures do not fall below about -10 to -15°c[200]. When the woody stems survive the winter it is best to prune them hard in the spring in order to obtain better flowering[11].
Plants flower best on the current years growth[200].
Most, if not all the plants in cultivation in Britain, derive from an original two plants raised from seed in 1908[11].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of rooted suckers in the spring[200].
Layering in the spring. Plants often self-layer[200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a closed frame[200]. Plants should be overwintered in a frost-free frame or greenhouse for their first winter[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Plumbaginaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[209] Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985 ISBN 85207 002 0
Details the 38 remedies plus how and where to prescribe them.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Ceratostigma+willmottianum
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.