Caryopteris incana
Common bluebeard
Also known as Caryopteris mastacanthus
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A rather delicate and refined looking late flowering shrub. This flowers during September and October when it produces many clear, soft blue flowers. They are carried on the length of, and at the end of the stems. They carry cream stamens, blue tipped, that extend way beyond the flower. The leaves are coloured grey-green and are attractively lobed, the lobes being neat and forward pointing. The leaves are pubescent on their underside (they have lots of small hairs), and are borne on stems that are coloured a soft whiteish-brown shade when young. The foliage carries a subtle herbal fragrance of turpentine. The flowers are much loved by bees. In colder areas this is often grown as a wall shrub. Note: This is one of the parents of the popular Caryopteris x clandonensis forms.
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Season of interest
- Autumn
- Flowers in
- Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction, Sensory garden (tactile)
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune hard to the base
Prune back to within 30cm to 45cm of the plant base so that the year's growth will begin from this low framework. If you want the plant to grow larger, this need only be done every few years.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Found in
More Caryopteris
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Heavenly Blue'
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub, Bluebeard, Blue spiraea, Clandon spiraea
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Kew Blue'
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub, Blue spiraea
Caryopteris x clandonensis Grand Bleu = 'Inoveris'
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub, Blue spiraea, Clandon spiraea
Caryopteris
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub
Caryopteris 'First Blue'
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub, Blue spiraea
Caryopteris Sapphire Dream = 'Lissmiv'
Bluebeard, Blue mist shrub, Blue spiraea
Caryopteris clandonensis Stephi = 'Lissteph'
Blue beard
Caryopteris incana 'Jason'
Common bluebeard