Caryopteris × clandonensis
Bluebeard
Common names: Blue mist shrub, Caryopteris
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 30 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −18 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Wouter Hagens · Public Domain · Source
Description
Caryopteris × clandonensis is a compact, summer‑green dwarf shrub that produces dense clusters of bright blue, slightly ruffled flowers from August to October, a late nectar source when most other shrubs have faded. Its grey‑green, aromatic foliage and rounded growth make it an elegant companion in rock and dry gardens. Butterflies and bees are attracted to it.
Care instructions
Plant in well‑drained, low‑fertility soil in full sun; wet, heavy soil in winter is its greatest danger. Watering is rarely needed after establishment. Prune heavily each spring in March, cutting back to about 15 to 20 cm, as it blooms on the fresh growth of the current year and this keeps it dense and floriferous. In harsh conditions, a mulch layer over the root zone protects it in winter.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
sandy, well-drained, lime-loving, lean, dry
Bluebeard wants well-drained, rather lean soil, preferably loosened with sand or gravel. It tolerates lime very well, so slightly alkaline is no problem. Definitely avoid heavy, wet soils and waterlogging: in wet conditions the roots rot, which is the most common reason for losses. Once established, it copes well with drought.
Feeding
Light feeder
Months
Mar–Apr
In spring, as growth begins (March/April), spread a thin layer of mature compost around the plant and rake it in shallowly. On very lean soils, add some horn shavings. That is usually enough for the whole year. From summer, stop feeding: too much nitrogen late in the year delays the ripening of the wood and weakens winter hardiness.
Overwintering
Bluebeard is root-hardy, but its shoots often die back in the lowlands of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. That is normal. Cover the root area with leaves or brushwood in late autumn and cut back hard only in spring, as it flowers on the current year's wood; in a container, overwinter it frost-free and cool.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- From seed
- Division
The most reliable method is propagation from cuttings: from June to August, take semi-ripe shoot tips about 10–15 cm long from a healthy parent plant, preferably one that is not in flower. Make sure that each cutting has several nodes. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings into a loose mix of sand and seed compost. Keep the substrate evenly moist and put the cuttings in a bright spot, but out of direct midday sun; at over 20 °C they root within two to three weeks. A plastic cover or a film tent keeps in the moisture and speeds up rooting. As soon as new leaves appear, you can prick out into individual pots and overwinter the young plants frost-free in their first winter. An older, perennial plant can also be propagated by division: dig up the root ball in spring before growth starts (or in autumn) and carefully separate it into pieces, each with strong roots and shoots. Replant the pieces straight away and water them in well. Division is easier than cuttings, but is limited by the size and woody structure of the plant; it is mainly suitable for well-established clumps. Sowing is possible in principle, but note: Caryopteris clandonensis is a garden hybrid (from C. incana x C. mongholica), so the seedlings do not come true; for named varieties (e.g. ‘Heavenly Blue’, ‘Worcester Gold’) only propagation by cuttings or division is suitable. If you still want to sow, sow the seeds from March at about 20 °C in seed compost; germination takes two to three weeks. With seedlings, expect several years until the first flowers.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
particularly well establishedYou will find that basil next to tomato and pepper improves taste and keeps whiteflies and aphids away.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 14 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Bluebeard yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?