Autumn is a great time of year to plant perennial flowers and shrubs and trees. Not all plant material is suitable to be planted in the fall, but if the plant is done blooming, it can be planted in the fall. Autumnal planting allows perennials the opportunity to develop roots for several weeks before winter leading to a larger, healthier plant the following growing season.
One of my favorite fall blooming shrubs is Caryopteris x clandonensis. It is currently covered in lavender blue flowers that stand out against the many greens of the plants that have already finished blooming in my perennial bed.
Commonly referred to as “bluebeard” or “blue mist,” Caryopteris x clandonensis is a deciduous shrub that in zones five and under will probably die back to the ground each winter. The die back is not really a problem, though; the shrub blooms on new growth each year and is only about two-feet tall and four feet wide.
C. x clandonensis grows in full sun to partial shade. It prefers loose, well-draining soils and will not grow in clay or wet soil. After this shrub is established, it will be drought tolerant.
The shrub is round in habit with fine stems. The lance shaped leaves are one and half to two inches in length, hairy and gray-green. The foliage doesn’t really have a fall color, but it is fragrant when rubbed.
The flowers are blue colored and bloom in late August to September. The flowers are not showy, just tiny flower clusters that are slightly fuzzy in appearance. The flowers grow on the stems between the top leaves of the plant. The flowers on most varieties of bluebeard will persist until frost.
Bluebeard is a valuable shrub because it adds flowers and color to the garden at a time when many perennials have completed their blooms. This shrub also works well because it’s not an extremely large shrub. It can be planted in front of tall perennial plants or shrubs. It can also be used as a low hedge. It will attract butterflies, too.
“Dark Knight” is a variety of bluebeard that blooms deep bluish-purple in late August until frost. “First Choice” is an early blooming variety that has dark blue buds that open to deep purplish blue flowers.
“Inoveris” is a little smaller than other varieties of bluebeard; it is about one and half to two and half feet tall and wide. It has deep blue flowers from July through September and dark green leaves.
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com.