Ceratostigma willmottianum
Ceratostigma willmottianum, Chinese plumbago,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Plumbaginaceae that is native to western China and Tibet.[2] 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.[3]
| Ceratostigma willmottianum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Plumbaginaceae |
| Genus: | Ceratostigma |
| Species: | C. willmottianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ceratostigma willmottianum | |
Etymology edit
Ceratostigma is derived from Greek, meaning 'horned stigma'. This is in reference to the 'shape of the stigmatic surface'.[4]
The specific epithet willmottianum was named for Miss Ellen Ann Willmott (1858-1934), a keen gardener and plant introducer from Warley Place, Essex, UK.[4]
Cultivation edit
Ceratostigma willmottianum is cultivated as a garden plant, valued for its late season red leaves and rich blue flowers. Both the species[1] and the cultivar Forest Blue = 'Lice'[5] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6] There is also a cultivar with yellow foliage, Desert Skies = 'Palmgold'.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b "RHS Plantfinder - Ceratostigma willmottianum". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ "Ceratostigma willmottianum Stapf". The Plant List (published on the internet). 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Kristo Pienaar (1 August 2003). South African 'What Flower Is That'?. Struik. pp. 81–. ISBN 978-1-86872-441-3. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ a b Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 99, 407
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Ceratostigma willmottianum Forest Blue = 'Lice'". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 17. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ "Ceratostigma willmottianum Desert Skies ('Palmgold')". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 15 October 2021.