Ceratostigma willmottianum explained

Ceratostigma willmottianum, Chinese plumbago, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plumbaginaceae that is native to western China and Tibet.^[1] It is an ornamental deciduous shrub that grows to 1 metre in height, with pale blue plumbago-like flowers appearing in autumn as the leaves start to turn red.^[2]

Etymology

Ceratostigma is derived from Greek, meaning 'horned stigma'. This is in reference to the 'shape of the stigmatic surface'.^[3]

The specific epithet willmottianum was named for Miss Ellen Ann Willmott (1858-1934), a keen gardener and plant introducer from Warley Place, Essex, UK.

Cultivation

Ceratostigma willmottianum is cultivated as a garden plant, valued for its late season red leaves and rich blue flowers. Both the species^[4] and the cultivar = 'Lice'^[5] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[6] There is also a cultivar with yellow foliage, = 'Palmgold'.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ceratostigma willmottianum Stapf . The Plant List (published on the internet) . 2012 . 3 February 2016.
2. Book: Kristo Pienaar. South African 'What Flower Is That'?. 5 January 2013. 1 August 2003. Struik. 978-1-86872-441-3. 81–.
3. Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 99, 407
4. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Ceratostigma willmottianum . 28 October 2018.
5. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Ceratostigma willmottianum = ‘Lice’ . 28 October 2018.
6. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 17 . Royal Horticultural Society . 28 October 2018.
7. Web site: Ceratostigma willmottianum Desert Skies ('Palmgold') . Royal Horticultural Society . 15 October 2021.