Leadwort | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Leadwort
Family (botanic) Plumbaginaceae
Tree or plant type Ground cover, Perennial
Native locale Non-native
Size range Small plant (6-12 inches)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites
Season of interest midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Blue
Shape or form Creeping
Growth rate Fast, Moderate

Size and Method of spreading:

Leadwort grows between 6 and 12 inches high. It is a colonizing ground cover. Colonizing ground covers produce underground stems that spread out horizontally and shallowly, produce roots, and then send up new shoots. These plants are strong growers and may have the potential to grow aggressively.

Native geographic location and habitat:

Leadwort is a native to China

Leaf description:

The alternate, ovate leaves are borne on reddish stems and have hair on their margins. Foliage is green in summer and turns to bronze or red in fall.

Flower description:

Flowers are a deep, true blue and are produced from July until frost. The sepals and bracts associated with these tubular flowers are red and add color to the plant during the flowering season.