Blue Plumbago

— With summer temperatures clearly around us even before the official start of summer, there is not much one would think could be in bloom in the middle of triple-digit temperatures in Texas. Incidentally, for those who use Celsius for temperature measurements, triple-digit temperatures in Fahrenheit are equivalent to Celsius temperatures above 37.5 degrees! When you factor in the heat index, the sensation is similar to walking into an oven.

Even in such high temperatures, there are some plants that thrive in that type of heat. In our front garden, for example, Blue Plumbago is one of those plants. They are spreading and blooming like it is the beginning of spring. It is a beautiful sight indeed.

Before it is in full bloom, if you get close to the bush, you will see these beautiful stems ready to open up their gentle blue-lavender flowers. Nature’s precision and detail are gorgeous to examine. You really need to get down on the ground and close to admire that. You can see what I am referring to in this second photo featured here. You already have one flower open, a few other stems showing off their colors and yet to open, and several other green stems that will turn into future flowers.

What is so beautiful about these flowers is that no matter how many are in bloom, it seems the bush keeps flowering more and more. Take, for example, this next photo (click on it to enlarge it). You have a healthy cluster of flowers, and yet you can see new, unopened flowers towering over what is already there.

I must say that until recently I had really not taken the time to observe these flowers carefully. When you see the first photo in detail, you can certainly appreciate the beauty in those tiny bits attached to the stems. They can be translucid and reflect more of the light surrounding the bushes.

Blue Plumbago (Plumbago scandens L.) is also known as Doctorbush, Summer Snow Plumbago, or Mexican Plumbago. These perennial and deciduous bushes also have white flowers. In the northern hemisphere, they will bloom from April through September, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, in Austin, Texas. They love partial shade and dry soils.

Finally, here is another shot similar to the first photo in which you can see several stems from a lower perspective angle. It is amazing how delicate the unopened flowers are.