plumbago

noun

plum·​ba·​go ˌpləm-ˈbā-(ˌ)gō 

plural plumbagos

1

[New Latin, from Latin] : any of a genus (Plumbago of the family Plumbaginaceae, the plumbago family) of chiefly tropical herbs and shrubs with alternate leaves and spikes of showy flowers

2

: graphite sense 1

Examples of plumbago in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

South African blue plumbagos add a burst of color and thrive in the heat, as do the flapjack plants. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026

Farther north, Cape plumbago can be planted as an annual or container plant wintered indoors (dormant or as a houseplant). — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 May 2026

Full sun Also known as plumbago, leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is a low-growing ground cover perennial that produces blue flowers from mid-summer to mid-fall. — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026

Cape plumbago develops clusters of true blue, pink, or white phlox-like flowers on new growth from summer to fall. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026

An aggressive groundcover for sun to part shade, hardy plumbago adapts to a variety of growing conditions, making a wonderful groundcover for repeating across a landscape. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 June 2025

Ferns, giant lavender, plumbago, rosemary, broom, and laurels grow on the mountain at its center. — Marzio Mian, The Dial, 12 June 2025

In addition to being deer-resistant, plumbago is tough as nails, drought tolerant, and fast-growing, though not invasive. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Mar. 2025

An interior courtyard blooms with chin-high hydrangeas and Chinese plumbago, and there are cases of Chateau Clarisse, a winery in Bordeaux run by the owners of the hotel, stacked in the creamy Italian marble bar. — Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin plumbagin-, plumbago galena, from plumbum

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for plumbago

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Medical Definition

plumbago

noun

plum·​ba·​go ˌpləm-ˈbā-(ˌ)gō 

plural plumbagos

: graphite