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Genus Caryopteris (Blue beard, Blue-mist shrub)

Caryopteris Caryopteris 'Worchester Gold' Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
kare-ee-OP-ter-iss Common Name: Blue beard, Blue-mist shrub
Plants in the genus Caryopteris are small to medium-sized woody shrubs cultivated for their attractive, aromatic foliage and usually blue flowers. The 6 species are native to the Himalayas and East Asia. Grow in a mixed or shrub border.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Opposite toothed leaves and small blue flowers from late summer to autumn.
 Care: Needs well-drained soil in sun to part shade. Blooms on current season's growth and may need to be hard pruned in spring in areas with severe winters.
 Propagation: Separate rooted stems from parent plant and transplant in early spring. Root softwood cuttings in late spring, or greenwood cuttings in early summer.
 Problems: Infrequent. Capsid bugs may affect leaves.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Caryopteris

Caryopteris × clandonensis Caryopteris × clandonensis
(Blue beard, Blue-spirea, Blue-mist shrub ) (1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

These plants can take worst of the a hot summer (heat, lack of water, and humidity) and still manage to perform well. They generally live four to five years before they need replacing, but during that time, they offer dependable foliage and pretty blue flowers from mid- to late summer. Blue-mist shrubs form low-growing, finely-textured mounds and are deer-resistant.
Caryopteris × clandonensis 'First Choice' Caryopteris × clandonensis 'First Choice'
(Blue beard, Blue-mist shrub) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'First Choice' is ideal for a mixed or shrub border. It's an attractive woody shrub with dark green leaves, dark purplish blue flowers, and a compact habit. Misty blue flowers appear in late summer and early autumn.This plant is relatively drought tolerant and very heat tolerant. The shrub expands as branches that touch the ground form their own roots and may self-seed.
Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Longwood Blue'
(Blue beard, blue-mist shrub) (1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Longwood Blue' is ideal for a mixed or shrub border. It's an attractive woody shrub up to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide with silvery leaves and violet-blue flowers.. The flowers appear along the stems in late summer and early autumn.This plant is relatively drought tolerant and very heat tolerant. The shrub expands as branches that touch the ground form their own roots and may self-seed.
Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Worcester Gold' Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Worcester Gold'
(Blue beard, Blue-mist shrub) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Worcester Gold' is an attractive, mounding, woody shrub with warm yellow to chartreuse foliage and lavender-blue flowers in late summer and early autumn. The flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies. The foliage is also aromatic. It is ideal for a mixed or shrub border.
Caryopteris incana 'Jason' Caryopteris incana 'Jason'
(Sunshine blue bluebeard) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Jason' has bright yellow-green foliage with rich amethyst blue flowers in late summer and fall. It's a vigorous grower for a mixed border or mass planting in sunny areas.