Ceratostigma willmottianum, Chinese plumbago, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plumbaginaceae that is native to western China and Tibet. 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
Leadwort can be lightly fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring, and then again in the early summer, which will promote rapid filling in between transplants.
These plants will experience the best growth in well-drained, slightly acidic soils that are rich in organic matter. However, leadwort is also adaptable to sandy and clay soils.
Pruning shears should be used to cut through branches with a diameter of no more than a quarter of an inch, with loppers used on larger branches.
Be sure to wait until spring to plant your leadworts. As the weather begins to turn colder, consider applying a light winter mulch and waiting until growth resumes in mid-spring before cutting the stems back to the ground.
It's a good idea to plant leadwort plants in a solid flower plant soil mix. A layer of clay pebbles can be placed at the bottom of the pot to help facilitate drainage and promote the growth of your flowers
