UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for October 2007:

Bluebeard

Submitted by Terumi Watson

Bluebeard, or Caryopteris sp., is an attractive woody, shrub-like perennial that blooms late in the garden. It is also called Blue Mist because the blooms resemble clouds of blue smoke or mist. This plant puts on a beautiful show with eye-catching blue flowers when most of the garden plants start to diminish. Bluebeard is a relative to Verbena and originated in China and Japan.

This plant grows 2 to 4 feet tall and forms a low mound. As soon as it is established in the garden, it branches out nicely without extra maintenance. It will be covered with blooms later in the season.

Showy clusters of clear blue flowers encircle the stem from late summer to the first killing frost. The extended stamens of each flower give the plant airy and soft texture. The flower colors are rich shades of blue and they look especially vibrant against golden foliage. Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Night’ produces darker blue flowers than others while ‘Longwood Blue’ has soft violet-blue flowers. The fragrant flowers attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects in the garden. They also make good cut flowers.

Common species have silvery-gray and aromatic foliage; but many foliage variegations are available. Notable variations include: Caryopteris incana ‘Summer Sorbet’ (green with yellow-edged foliage), Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’ (green with white-edged foliage), and Caryopteris incana ‘Jason’ (bright golden foliage). These variegated cultivars add interest to the garden even when they are not in bloom.

Bluebeard performs the best in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. However, it tolerates poor soil and dry conditions. If it is planted in poorly drained soil with too much moisture, it will suffer from root-rot, which usually results in losing the plant during the winter months. Because of its woody stems, pruning should be done in early spring to promote vigorous new growth, not in fall like other perennial plants. Blooms are produced on the current season’s growth.

There are no serious insect or disease problems for this plant.

Bluebeard is an excellent choice to add to mixed borders as a specimen or in a mass planting. Its cool color complements the warmer hues of other fall-blooming plants and fall foliage colors. This plant is hardy to zones 5 to 9.

Terumi Watson is a graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. She works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. The original gardens are located in Knoxville on Neyland Drive. Additional gardens are located in Jackson on Airways Blvd. Admission is free, and the Gardens are open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.

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Contact:

Patricia C. McDaniels, (865) 974-7141