White Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata ‘Alba’) is a stunning tropical shrub admired for its pure white, delicate flowers and lush green foliage. A variety of the well-known Blue Plumbago, this cultivar offers the same spreading, airy growth habit and long bloom season, but with elegant, crisp white blossoms that brighten up any garden space. Native to South Africa, White Plumbago brings both beauty and versatility to warm-climate landscapes.
Typically growing 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, White Plumbago has a sprawling, semi-vining habit that can be pruned into a compact shrub or allowed to trail as a graceful groundcover. Its stems are lined with soft, oval green leaves, providing a fresh, natural backdrop to the bright white flower clusters. The blooms are star-shaped and phlox-like, appearing in rounded clusters at the ends of the branches, often in abundance from spring through fall—and year-round in frost-free areas.
White Plumbago is a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators, making it an excellent addition to wildlife gardens. The contrast between the white flowers and green foliage creates a clean, serene effect that pairs beautifully with bolder colors in mixed borders or tropical gardens. Its airy, informal shape also lends itself well to cottage-style landscapes and Mediterranean designs.
This hardy and adaptable plant thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. It is heat-tolerant and moderately drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping and low-maintenance gardens. Best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11, it can be grown as an annual or container specimen in cooler zones and overwintered indoors when necessary.
In the landscape, White Plumbago can serve as a flowering hedge, informal border, or a cascading filler in containers or raised beds. It also works well on slopes for erosion control or as a trailing accent over walls. With support, it can be trained to climb trellises and fences, adding vertical interest to the garden.
Low-maintenance and fast-growing, White Plumbago benefits from occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage more blooms. Fertilize during the growing season to promote flowering and lush foliage. It is relatively pest-free, though occasional aphids or whiteflies can be managed with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Overall, White Plumbago is a graceful, low-maintenance flowering shrub that offers year-round appeal in warm climates. Its clean, white flowers and adaptable nature make it a favorite for gardeners seeking elegance, pollinator attraction, and a long season of blooms in a variety of landscape settings.