1. a tropical or subtropical flowering plant with blue, white, or red flowers, commonly grown as an ornamental
Usage: botany
2. graphite, especially when used as a writing material
Usage: archaic; mineralogy

Examples

• The blue plumbago bloomed beautifully along the garden fence.
• White plumbago is often used as ground cover in warm climates.
• The gardener planted red plumbago to attract butterflies.
• Plumbago thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
• In colonial times, plumbago was the common name for graphite used in pencils.