Blue Spirea Caryopteris x clandonensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kay-ree-OP-ter-iss klan-dun-EN-sis
- Description
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Blue spirea is a low, mounding, deciduous shrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It is a hybrid cross between C. incana and C. mongholica. The common name blue mist refers to the flowers which have a fluffy cloudlike appearance.
This light airy shrub quickly reaches an average size 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and has a medium to fine texture. When there is little else blooming in the garden in the late summer and early fall this plant will delight with its bright blue fragrant flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. In cold climates below zone 6 the stems will die back to the ground.
Plant in loose, well-drained loamy soil in the full sun. Too much fertilizer will result in lanky growth. Cut it back in late winter to improve its form and remove dead stems as the blooms appear on new growth. It is very easy to transplant, tolerant of drought, is pest and disease resistant, and is seldom browsed by deer.
Plant this shrub in groups or mass planting along shrub borders or use as a low growing hedge. Its fragrant foliage and nectar-rich flowers make it a wonderful addition to a cutting, sensory, or pollinator themed garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Axillary inflorescences
- Flowers have a beard at base petal
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Crown rot may occur in poorly drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Longwood Blue'
4 feet tall, fragrant violet blue flowers, silver gray leaves
- 'Longwood Blue'
- 'Longwood Blue'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Longwood Blue'
4 feet tall, fragrant violet blue flowers, silver gray leaves
- 'Longwood Blue'
- 'Longwood Blue'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Caryopteris
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Bright blue flowers in late summer. Axillary cymes on the uppermost leaves. Bright blue, base petal is elongated like a beard.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, dull blue-green leaves; 1-2 in. long; whitish below; no fall color; fragrant when crushed. Ovate, half as wide, acute, entire or serrate, muted blue-green above and silvery and tomentose on underside. The pubescent petiole is 1/3" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- 4 sided, grayish green, flat nodes, pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Insect Pests
