Caryopteris x clandonensis Kew Blue - Bluebeard

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Kew Blue' is a shrub or small bush highly appreciated for its superb late summer flowering. With a dense habit, this 'blue spirea' has green foliage with a touch of grey that becomes pleasantly aromatic when crushed. Its late flowering in feathery clusters bursts with an intense violet-blue colour that is truly remarkable. A true sun-loving plant, it thrives in well-drained, even dry soil, and shows good hardiness in these conditions. A charming bush to integrate in the foreground of a diverse flower bed or in a low composite hedge.

Caryopteris belongs to the Verbenaceae family, which includes several ornamental genera (Lantana, Verbena, Clerodendrum...), some of which are aromatic. The hybrid Caryopteris x clandonensis was obtained in the 1930s by Arthur Simmonds, secretary of the prestigious English RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Its two parents are Caryopteris incana, a small oriental bush (China, Japan, Korea), and C. mongolica, a dwarf bush with large blue flowers, originally from Mongolia (and China), as its name suggests.
'Kew Blue' is a variety that forms a dense bush of about 1m (3ft) in height, or a bit more, with a width of 80cm (32in). It mainly blooms in August-September, sometimes as early as July or as late as October, on terminal branches and lower nodes. Intensely blue, tending towards violet-blue, the inflorescences are composed of numerous small flowers with prominent stamens, giving them a slightly feathery appearance. They stand out well against the fairly dark, somewhat greyish green foliage. The leaves, which are quite short at approximately 4cm (2in) in length, are narrow and have small teeth along the edges. When crushed, they release a pleasant fragrance. This deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

Caryopteris 'Kew Blue' is one of those precious plants for summer, as it is very floriferous and easy to grow, even in dry conditions. You can combine it with other understated plants to create a low-maintenance flower bed. Cotinus coggygria Golden Lady placed behind it will create a dazzling contrast with its yellow foliage that turns orange in autumn, while its airy inflorescences develop from June to August. In milder climates, you can achieve a beautiful colour combination by planting a Lavatera Burgundy Wine, with its beautiful funnel-shaped purple-pink flowers that succeed each other from June to October. To continue with strong colorful contrasts, nothing beats a cushion of yellow Evening Primrose, like the Oenothera fruticosa Camel which will reward you with its bright golden-yellow flowers throughout the summer!