Plumbago auriculata or capensis is a native of South Africa where it is typically part of the undergrowth under larger shrubs and bushes.
It has become quite popular as a smallish climber in regions with mild winters. The foliage will be killed off by frost but a well-established plant can withstand up to -8°C, growing back from the ground in the spring.
With the night frosts of -4°C in January, mine is currently a heap of brown twigs and leaves but it will start to grow back soon.
In my garden Plumbago capensis grows to about 150 cm high and flowers between June and October. It seems to appreciate its half-shady spot between the raised vegetable beds and partly behind a Lonicera fragrantissima. The soil there may stay a bit more humid than in other parts of the garden and it probably also profits some from the deep waterings the neighboring vegetables get.



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