Description
Caryopteris (Bluebeard) kare-ee-OP-ter-is
Whether you know it as bluebeard or blue mist, Caryopteris x clandonensis is one of the few plants that produce genuinely blue flowers. An accidental hybrid of C. incana and C. mongholica1, it has since been bred to produce several popular cultivars. The compact size and soft gray foliage make blue beard plants a good choice in any size garden. Depending on the climate, these plants are grown either as deciduous shrubs or woody perennials that die back to the ground each winter. Growing from neat low mounds, the narrow silvery-gray leaves resemble those of willow. Small, pale blue flowers cover the plant from midsummer into fall. Caryopteris plants should be planted in full sun areas for the best blooms. They will tolerate some shade, although flowering will be somewhat reduced. Blue beard may bloom later in the season if they are planted in a shady location.
