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Bluebeard Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Bluebeard

Caryopteris x clandonensis

Late-season joy.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Caryopteris
Native to
East Asia, Garden hybrid origin
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
deciduous shrub
Height
2-4 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Well-drained, average
Water
low
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Bluebeard is one of the few shrubs that blooms in late summer when most others have finished.
  • The entire plant is aromatic, with silvery-green leaves that release a spicy fragrance when brushed.
  • It was created as a garden hybrid in the 1930s by Arthur Simmonds in West Clandon, England.
  • The flowers are irresistible to butterflies and bees, earning it the nickname 'blue mist shrub'.
  • Despite being a woody shrub, it is best treated as a herbaceous perennial and cut back hard each spring.

Color meanings

0

surprise

1

renewed enthusiasm

Uses

  • pollinator gardens
  • mixed borders
  • drought-tolerant landscaping