How to Prune Blue Plumbago

Why Should I Prune My Blue Plumbago?

Blue plumbago is a vigorous grower that can get leggy and sprawling without regular pruning. It flowers on new growth, which means the more you prune, the more flowering stems you get. Left unpruned, it becomes a tangled mass with flowers only at the tips.

The main pruning happens in late winter or early spring before the plant breaks dormancy. Cut the whole plant back by one-third to one-half. You can even cut it to within a few inches of the ground if it's badly overgrown. Plumbago rebounds quickly and will be covered in sky-blue flowers by summer.

During the growing season, deadhead spent flower clusters regularly. This encourages continuous blooming instead of the plant putting energy into seed production. You can also do light tip pruning in midsummer to shape the plant and trigger a second flush of flowers.

Plumbago has sticky, glandular hairs on its flower calyxes that cling to clothing and skin. Wear gloves and clothes you don't mind getting sticky when pruning around the flower clusters.