Items 1 to 7 of 7 total
Items 1 to 7 of 7 total
Bluebeard
Uses:
- Wildlife Gardens
- Garden Borders
- Container Gardens
Features:
- Drought & Heat Tolerant
- Deer Resistant
- Attracts Pollinators
Sunlight:
- Full Sun
- 6+ Hours of Direct Sun
Growing Zones:
- 5-9
- What is My Zone?
Bluebeard, Caryopteris, is a drought tolerant shrub that attracts bees, butterflies & hummingbirds. The leaves have a nice sage-like scent, and often contrast from the flowers to create a beautiful combination.
Why Bluebeard Online
If you want a shrub that bursts with mid to late spring color and thrills butterflies and bees, you can grow Caryopteris (C. x clandonensis). Also called bluebeard, blue mist, and blue mist spirea, caryopteris plants actually are part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, a recent change from their former placement in the verbena family. Regardless, they are nothing like a spirea, but the name has stuck.
Caryopteris is a drought-tolerant shrub that has pretty, sage-like pale green leaves. The leaves have a nice, light scent. They drop in winter (it is deciduous) but begin emerging in late spring or early summer. You can leave the brown seed heads on for some winter interest; blue mist still will maintain its shrub shape with dry, light brown stems.
The plant comes from Asia, so it is not native to North America. That does not seem to bother pollinators and these shrubs do not spread, unlike its mint relatives. Still, you can prevent it from self-sowing (dropping seeds to create new plants) by pruning it in fall as soon as all the flowers fade.
It’s drought tolerant, a pollinator magnet and an easy to care for plant!
About Bluebeard
Genus
Species
Family
Caryopteris
Caryopteris x clandonensis (most common hybrid), Caryopteris incana, Caryopteris divaricata
Lamiaceae
Common Names:
Blue Mist Shrub, Blue Spirea
Native To:
East Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
Plant Type:
Bushes
Foliage Type:
Deciduous
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
5 - 9
Flower Color:
Blue, Violet-Blue
Flower Bloom Time:
Late Summer to Early Fall
Growth Habit:
Upright, Mounded
Attracts:
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Tolerates:
Drought (once established), Heat
Resists:
Deer, Rabbits
How To Use Bluebeard In The Garden
Bluebeard (Caryopteris) thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, receiving at least six hours of sunlight daily. During the first year, water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings; once established, the shrub exhibits drought tolerance, requiring minimal supplemental watering. This shrub thrives in lean conditions and requires little, if any, fertilizer.
Prune Bluebeard in early spring as new growth emerges, cutting branches back to 12 to 18 inches to promote vigorous blooming. While deadheading isn't necessary, removing spent flowers can enhance the plant's appearance. For container cultivation, select pots with adequate drainage and ensure they receive sufficient sunlight. During winter, move containers Prune Bluebeard in early spring as new growth emerges, cutting branches back to 12 to 18 inches to promote vigorous blooming. While deadheading isn't necessary, removing spent flowers can enhance the plant's appearance. For container cultivation, select pots with adequate drainage and ensure they receive sufficient sunlight. During winter, move containers to a cool, sheltered location and reduce watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy. a cool, sheltered location and reduce watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy.
Bluebeard Care
Bluebeard (Caryopteris) thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, receiving at least six hours of sunlight daily. During the first year, water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings; once established, the shrub exhibits drought tolerance, requiring minimal supplemental watering. This shrub thrives in lean conditions and requires little, if any, fertilizer.
Prune Bluebeard in early spring as new growth emerges, cutting branches back to 12 to 18 inches to promote vigorous blooming. While deadheading isn't necessary, removing spent flowers can enhance the plant's appearance. For container cultivation, select pots with adequate drainage and ensure they receive sufficient sunlight. During winter, move containers to a cool, sheltered location and reduce watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy.
Learn More About Bluebeard
Bluebeard Companion Plants
Plants that go well with bluebeard are tough and heat loving perennials, annuals and shrubs. A few of our favorite plants go grow with bluebeard are lantana, salvia, sedum, coneflowers and black-eyed susans.
