White Plumbago

White Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata 'White') is a tough, easy care evergreen shrub with a loose, sprawling habit and clusters of crisp white flowers through the warmer months. It grows 2 to 3m high and about 2m wide. It is useful for informal hedging, privacy screens and cottage-style planting, and it copes with difficult sites.

Why you'll love it

• Crisp white flowers. The clusters appear through the warmer months and lighten a dark fence or boundary.
• Happy almost anywhere. It is tough and easy care, and tolerates full sun, dry spells and poor sites once established.
• A loose, relaxed habit. The sprawling growth suits informal hedges and fences, and it can be clipped lightly after flowering for a fresher display.
• Many roles. Use it as a screen, a hedge, a climber on a trellis or a feature shrub.
• Glossy evergreen leaves. The foliage keeps its colour all year and hides fences and walls.

Where it works best

Privacy screens and informal hedges. Plant 1m apart in a single row. The loose stems interlock into a soft screen of 2 to 3m that stays full from the base.

Cottage charm on fences and trellises. Let it ramble over an old fence, a trellis or an arch, where the white flowers will show against the dark leaves.

Feature planting. Plant a single shrub as a white focal point at the corner of a bed, a gate or a patio.

Growing White Plumbago in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It does well in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid districts, and once established it is drought tolerant. Frost is the risk, so protect it, and in cold districts try a sheltered position against a warm wall.

Soil. Good drainage matters more than fertility. Dig in compost before planting and mulch afterwards.

Water and feed. Mulch and water thoroughly until it is growing strongly. Apply a controlled release fertiliser in spring and autumn.

Pruning. Clip lightly after flowering for a tidy, fresh display, or cut back harder to renew a tired plant. Wear gloves when pruning, because plumbago can irritate sensitive skin.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell White Plumbago as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant, so a long hedge or screen takes a few seasons to fill. Plant it out soon after delivery, water it in well and mulch around the base.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Shrubs for privacy
• Alternative hedging plants
• Hedging and screening plants
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants

Common questions

How tall will it grow?

Typically 2 to 3m high and about 2m wide. Clipping holds it lower, and a trellis lets it climb higher.

Will it make a good privacy screen?

Yes. Plant 1m apart and let it grow, and the evergreen, sprawling stems fill in to a soft screen. Clip lightly after flowering to keep it tidy.

Is it suitable near pets and children?

Take care. Plumbago sap can irritate skin and the leaves are mildly toxic if chewed, so keep it where pets and small children will not nibble the stems.