Sunday, January 04, 2009

Scarlet Leadwort


Scarlet Leadwort
Plumbago indica
(plum-BAY-go) (IN-dih-kuh)
Synonyms: Plumbago coccinea, P. rosea
Today's Flowers

This is a beautiful red version of Plumbago photographed last year in the Conservatory at Wave Hill Gardens in the Bronx.

It took me a little by surprise, as I hadn’t seen the red flowered form before. Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) is a favorite flower of mine. We northern gardeners don’t have the rambling plantings of it like the tropical people do. So it is a little more special and less common to me. Scarlet Plumbago hardy down to 10 degrees F (USDA Zone 8a) and blooms this time of year. I will have to try growing some in a container. The Blue or Cape Plumbago is a native of South Africa where the red flower species is native to India and Sri Lanka. There are about 15 to 20 total species in the genus.

Plumbago has several medicinal uses as seen on this page. Please be careful as the page states “Caution: Use this carefully. High doses are dangerous and can cause death” and “Taken in large doses, this herb can cause paralysis leading ultimately to death.” Sometimes a little of something is better than a lot of it.

Too bad this little plant isn’t in flower as the color is a brilliant red. Graptopetalum (Graptopetalum amethystinum) is a rare plant from the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of central Mexico. It is commonly know as Lavender Pebbles or Jewel leafed plant. They are related to the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) and Kalanchoe.


For more flowers from around the world check out
Today’s Flowers home page. It starts after 7pm GMT.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the first photo. The second one is quite original; I had never seen one like it before.

Unknown said...

Never heard of scarlet plumbago!!

Gill - That British Woman said...

what a lovely colour that first one........

Gill in Canada

sweetmom said...

love the first flower, so pretty.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Beautiful Plumbago, and most unusual (and never before seen by me) Lavender Pebbles. What an appropriate name for this plant. Thanks for shairng your photos.

Anonymous said...

great photos! the first picture is very beautiful.

kayleen said...

Very nice cheery red flower. The information about it is interesting. Thanks for sharing

Arija said...

Love the red Pllumbago although to me blue flowers are much more special. Native to the Subcontinent it would need high humidity to do well. Delightful little succulant with it's leaves like pebbles. Lovely.

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Wonderful flowers!
Thanks for sharing!

Hope you have a Happy 2009!
Also come back every week!

Luiz

Tammie Lee said...

both these images are wonderful. The last one gets me in a delicious way.

LOURDES C COSTA said...

Lovely...Love the first..
Thanks for sharing!

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Thanks to all for the nice comments.

Martha at Wave Hill said...

I thought you'd like to know about the first of our 2009 Horticultural Lectures, on January 21. Photographer Mick Hales will be speaking about what catches the eye in a garden and how that affects what we see and experience. The lectures are at the New York School of Interior Design (170 E. 70th St.) and general admission is $25. More at http://www.wavehill.org/events/event_1427.html.
Happy new year!
Martha Gellens
Wave Hill