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Semi-climbing shrub of the Plumbaginaceae family, native to South Africa, where it grows in coastal thickets, wooded edges, and sunny rocky slopes. Introduced to Europe as early as the 17th century, it is now widely naturalized around the Mediterranean basin, where it covers walls, fences, and embankments with its long, flexible, and arched stems.
The foliage is evergreen in mild climates, composed of oblong leaves of a bright green, slightly auriculate at the base — as its specific epithet recalls. The flowers, gathered in dense terminal corymbs, are tubular with five spreading petals, of a characteristic sky-blue, traversed by a more pronounced central vein on each lobe. The color varies significantly depending on individuals and conditions, from almost pure white to a rather intense lavender-blue, as evidenced by the visible differences between the three photos.
A practical detail to know: the calyxes are covered with small sticky and viscous glands that easily retain fibers and dust, and can stain clothes upon contact.
In its natural habitat, flowering is almost continuous. In cultivation under a warm temperate climate, it extends from June until the first frosts. It requires a very sunny exposure, well-drained soil, and winter protection as soon as temperatures drop below -3 to -5°C. In cold regions, it is grown in a pot brought indoors to protect from frost.