蓝雪科也叫白花丹科，包括24属约800余种，广泛分布在全世界各地，尤其适合生长在盐碱地、沼泽和钙基土壤上，中国有7属约37种，分布全国各地。

本科植物多数为多年生草本植物，有少数为小灌木或藤本，有的有茎或没有茎；单叶互生或旋叠状；花两性，辐射对称，花冠通常合瓣，管状。其中许多品种用做栽培观赏花卉。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将本科单独列为一个蓝雪目，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法将其放在石竹目中。

Plumbaginaceae is a family of flowering plants, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The family is sometimes referred to as the leadwort family or the plumbago family.

Most species in this family are perennial herbaceous plants, but a few grow as lianas or shrubs. The plants have perfect flowers and are pollinated by insects. They are found in many different climatic regions, from arctic to tropical conditions, but are particularly associated with salt-rich steppes, marshes, and sea coasts.