Ceratostigma willmottianum

This dainty low growing shrub has been flowering for the past month, and will continue to do so into the autumn, until the first frosts. The Chinese plumbago is a deciduous shrub, grown for its bright blue flowers, and bronze-red autumn foliage.

The plant was collected on a plant hunting expedition at the beginning of the 20th century, which was funded by Ellen Willmott, an English horticulturist who had a great passion for plants and gardens. This plant is named after her, as are many more. She used her great wealth sponsoring expeditions to discover new species. The plant is native of the Chinese province of Sichuan and was found by the great plant hunter Ernest Wilson in 1908, where it was growing in the semi-arid regions of the Min River valley.

It grows at the top of the path on the AGM border (area S on the downloadable map) The Award of Garden Merit border showcases plants that have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society accolade for excellence, and this plant well deserves this award.