The
Cape Leadwort, or Plumbago capensis, derived
its name from its likeness to lead (the blue of the
flowers not unlike that of pure lead), or "plumbum".
The Cape Leadwort was a half hardy climbing shrub with
scaly leaves and diffuse panicles of phlox-like
flowers of a soft-azure blue. It could be planted out
freely during the summer in the garden, but grew to
its full height and beauty within a greenhouse trained
up a pillar or trellis. It could grow in just about
any kind of compost or soil so long as it had good drainage.
Cuttings could be struck at any time with the aid of
a little heat, although Hibberd advised striking them
in the late summer under a bell glass.
The
Victorians knew some dozen species of plumbago, the
best known being P. capensis (depicted to the
left), P. Europaea, which was a native of southern
Europe, and Lady's Larpent's (P. Larpentae)
which was a native of China.
Hibberd
warned that the plumbagos were bitter and acrid, and
probably poisonous, but noted that the root of the European
species was sometime chewed as a cure for the toothache,
and a preparation of it mixed with olive oil was highly
regarded as a cure for ulcers and itches.
