Blue lead wort, Cape leadwort
Plumbago auriculata

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can be somewhat climbing. It can grow 2-4 m tall. The leaf stalk is winged at the base and clasps the stem. The leaves are narrowly oval and their are scales underneath. The leaves are greyish-green underneath. The flowers have a pale blue tube and wide lobes.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It is drought tolerant. Brisbane Botanical Garden. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canary Is., Central America, China, Comoros, Crete, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Greece, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Indochina, Italy, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sicily, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Spain, St Helena, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. cuttings or suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Buombuom xanh

Synonyms

Plumbago alba Pasq.; Plumbago capensis Thunb.; and others