| PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub | Course Home | Week 2 |
Caryopteris x clandonensis - Bluemist Shrub or Bluemist Caryopteris
Plant Viewer
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| Bluemist shrub has a naturally rounded form with open branching. | The grey-green leaves of are lanceolate to ovate with serrations. They are arranged oppositely on the stem. |
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| Small purple-blue flowers emerge from the leaf bud. Image: Wikipedia.org |
Plant Description
Caryopterisx clandonensis (Bluemist Shrub) is a small shrub (2-3 feet tall) with silver-green foliage and purple-blue flowers. It is an herbaceous shrub, meaning that it dies back every year and largely regrows from new shoots, though some new growth can appear on older wood. For best growth, the plant shoot be cut back heavily in late winter or early spring before it has broken dormancy.
The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 1-2 inches long and arranged opposite on the stem. While the regular variety of Caryopteris x clandonensis has smooth leaf edges, many of the cultivars have serrated edges. The small and narrow leaves give the plant a light a airy look in the landscape. The small putple-blue blossoms occur in clusters and are carried on the last six inches of the stem. Blooms appear in mid to late summer and persist through fall.
Caryopteris x clandonensis is noted for its vigorous growth and tolerance of poor soils, heat and drought conditions. It does not perform well in wet soils. It spreads by seed and can easily take over an area if seedlings are not removed.
Landscape Use
As a small shrub, Caryopters x clandonensis work well in perennial border plantings or other massings of plants. It is also suitable for use in parking islands because of its tolerance for poor soils and hot conditions.
Notable Cultivars
Worcester Gold:
A yellow-leaved variety with light blue blooms.
