Bluebeard (Blue Mist or Blue Spiraea)
Caryopteris species and hybrids (VERBENACEAE)
Planting and Growing Bluebeard
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow bluebeard, blue mist, or blue spiraea in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, pods, and seeds of bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- Growing conditions for bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- When and where to plant bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- How to plantbluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- How to shape, prune and control growth of bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- Landscape uses of bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
- Pest and disease control for bluebeard, blue mist or blue spiraea
Growing Bluebeard
About 6 species of fast-growing, erect, deciduous shrubs, 3–4 ft. (90–120 cm) tall, with opposite, textured, blue, gray, or deep green, lance-shaped, often toothed, fragrant leaves, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) long.
Commonly cultivated species include blue mist, Caryopteris X clandonensis; common bluebeard, Caryopteris incana; and Himalayan bluebird, Caryopteris odorata.
Bluebeard Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Many tiny, blue, lavender, pink, purple, sometimes hairy flowers, to 1/4-in. (6-mm) long, in whorled clusters, to 4 in. (10 cm) wide, on tall, spiking stems, in late summer, form dry, segmented seedpods in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–10; ground hardy, zones 7–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 2 ft. (60 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize every 2 months. Deadhead spent blossoms to prolong bloom. Shear in spring. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, borders, containers in cottage, formal gardens. Good for cutting, drying. Pest and disease resistant.