Sunshine Blue® II Bluebeard (Caryopteris)
Shrub
- Bountiful dark blue blooms appear in late summer!
- Bright yellow foliage shines from spring to fall.
- Certified Deer Proof™ by Proven Winners® ColorChoice Shrubs.
- Excellent for pollinators.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 3' tall x 3' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: USPP 28,093
Common name: Blue mist, Blue mist spirea, Bluebeard
Zone: 5 - 9
Exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 2-3' X 2-3'
Flower color: Deep blue
Foliage color: Yellow
Season of interest: Late summer - fall
Bloom time: Late summer, fall
Features: Rare & unusual, Proven Winners, heat tolerant, dry soils, drought tolerant, deer resistant, best for beginners
Uses: Border, cottage gardening, foundation planting, hedge, massing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Water: Low to moderate. It tolerates some drought but is intolerant of wet, poorly-drained soils.
Spacing: 3 feet
Fertilizing: None needed. If you wish, apply a granular garden or rose fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: Stems will often die to the ground in the cold winters of Zones 5 and 6, with roots surviving to push up new stems in spring.
Maintenance & pruning: In spring, when the new growth begins to emerge on the stems, cut back to just above where big, healthy buds appear. The plant may be cut back up to two-thirds of its total height, but will recover as long as there are living buds below the cut. This approach keeps the plant dense and tidy, and prevents it from splaying out or cracking.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
