Plumbago

Plumbago auriculata

Family: Plumbaginaceae

shrub

Pet & Human Safety

People: Skin irritant to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap, seeds, stems

Preparation

Ornamental plant, not a food crop. Wear gloves when pruning or handling it, and wash off any skin the sap touches.

Hazard type

skin contact irritant (plumbagin)

Hazard route

skin contact

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is complete as far as our sources go. That is not a statement that the plant is safe.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA page matches Plumbago auriculata (Cape plumbago): "plumbago" returns only 4 results, none an exact match. Two same-common-word, different-genus pages exist and were checked directly: "Plumbago Larpentiae" (Ceratostigma larpentiae) and "Chinese Plumbago" (Ceratostigma willmottianum): both a different genus (Ceratostigma, family Plumbaginaceae, same family but not the same plant), and both confirmed Non-Toxic to Dogs/Cats/Horses on their own ASPCA pages. Their verdict is not borrowed here for Plumbago auriculata, so this exact species has no verdict. (No practical safety risk either way here since all the related pages found are non-toxic, but the species identity still shouldn't be conflated.)

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: Genuine source conflict: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions gives zones 9B-11; UF/IFAS EDIS FP-487 gives zones 9-11. Close but not identical: both shown rather than picked.
Mature size: 6-10 ft tall, 8-10 ft wide; allow 4-6 ft between plants when installing a row/hedge (UF/IFAS EDIS FP-487).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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