Ceratostigma willmottianum

Plant of the month: August

Ceratostigma willmottianum

Ceratostigma willmottianum was introduced into cultivation by Ernest Wilson in 1908 from West China and gained an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 2002.

This spreading deciduous subshrub has sky blue flowers and light green leaves with a purple margin. It often dies down completely in the winter only to emerge again unscathed in the spring.

The star-like flowers are about 25mm across, with deep coloured edges which fade to white in the middle. They are backed by a red tube at the rear.

The plant can reach a height of up to one metre and a spread of one and a half metres. It prefers a sunny sheltered border or the base of a sunny wall.

It is a member of the Plumbaginaceae family and can be found on Wilson Walk.