Florida has its own native plumbago (leadwort) species, and while it’s not as showy as the non-native blue plumbago, it certainly deserves more attention. Like its showier cousin, Wild Plumbago is a host plant for tiny Ceranus blue butterflies, and its flowers are mainly pollinated by butterflies. As a native plant, it deserves a place in the Florida butterfly garden, as well as any native or wildflower garden.
Wild Plumbago aka Doctorbush, is a warm-climate plant, and is frost-sensitive, and may die back in a freeze, but should return from the roots in Central Florida. If planted in a protected area, it will remain green and flower all year long. It prefers some shade and the foliage may yellow if it receives too much sun. Although considered drought-tolerant, it does better if it receives some consistent moisture, especially during the drier months. It’s ideal in the understory of trees and shrubs, where leaf-litter provides natural mulch to hold moisture in the soil and foliage overhead protects it from the sun.