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Pruning guide · Shrub
Chinese plumbago: when and how to prune
Ceratostigma willmottianum
Chinese plumbago is best pruned in April.
| Pruning months | April |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in April |
| Flowering | August–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Chinese plumbago: when to prune it?
In April, once the hardest frosts are over and before the new shoots appear.
What else to prune in those months? April
Chinese plumbago: how to prune it?
- Cut all stems back to just above the ground.
- Remove dead and frost-damaged wood.
- Leave the old stems over winter: they protect the base from frost.
- Not sure whether a stem is alive? Wait until May and you will see where it reshoots.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: April.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in April can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Chinese plumbago flowers in August–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: It flowers on new wood: a hard prune in April costs no flowers, but pruning in summer or autumn does.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Chinese plumbago · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.