Plumbago and Cassius Blue

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) also commonly known as Leadwort is an evergreen shrub that blooms with showy sky blue or white flowers very similar in appearance to phlox.

Native to South Africa, plumbago is tolerant of long, hot summers, humid air, torrential downpours and needs little to no water once established which has made it a popular ornamental plant in Florida and California. Plumbago blooms most of the year except for the coldest part of winter, so wait until then to cut the plant back without getting rid of flower buds.

As for butterflies, Plumbago is host to the tiny Cassius Blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius) which lays its eggs on the buds of new flowers and leaves. The eggs are whitish and have the look of a donut with a deep depression in the center.

The tiny larvae are a green that seems made to match the exact shade of the plumbago foliage and they have tiny hairs on their body that helps further camouflage their slug-like bodies from predators. Trying to spy these caterpillars on a plumbago bush is nearly an exercise in futility.

The diminutive butterfly has a lovely silvery-blue coloring on its upper wings and the underside is a mottled cream and brown pattern that helps to break up their overall form and make it more difficult for predators to see them.

If you have a plumbago, just wait for it. Soon you'll have a cloud of tiny blue butterflies dancing in the air around it.