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Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis</em> Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis</em> Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis</em> Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis '<em>Longwood Blue</em>'</em> Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis '<em>Longwood Blue</em>'</em> Blue mist — <em>Caryopteris x clandonensis '<em>Worcester Gold</em>'</em>

Description

The blue mist is a deciduous shrub mounding shrub, 3-4 ft. tall, 4-5 ft. wide with aromatic gray foliage and powder-blue flowers. It is a good size for residential gardens where it can be combined with other flowering perennials and shrubs, and add to the attraction for butterflies.

Several cultivars can now be found among nurseries and garden centers that offer different foliage and flowering options. C. x c. 'Azure' has deep blue flowers; C. x c. 'Longwood Blue' has narrow, silvery-gray leaves and violet-blue flowers; and C. x c. 'Worcester Gold' has yellow foliage and light blue flowers. These plants grow best in sunny locations and in well-drained soils and with periodic deep summer moisture.

Water Needs

Blue mist and its several cultivars grow well with moderate amounts of moisture throughout the year, however, mature plants also grow well with periodic deep irrigation in the summer. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water. Blue mist and its cultivars flower best within the higher moisture range during the spring flowering season and drier in the summer.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Moderate Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 3

  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
Runs per Month 0x to 3x 0x to 3x 0x to 3x 2x to 3x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 2x to 3x 0x to 3x 0x to 3x
Inches per Run 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1"
 
Inches per Month 0" to 3" 0" to 3" 0" to 3" 2" to 3" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 2" to 3" 0" to 3" 0" to 3"

Range of supplemental summer water: 9"-16"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-15"

 
0"-3"
0"-3"
0"-3"
2"-3"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
2"-3"
0"-3"
0"-3"
  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Shrub
Foliage Character: Winter deciduous
Habit: Upright, Spreading, Mounding
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft.
Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Foliage Color: Pale green, Gray green
Flower Color: Blue
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, All day sun
Function: Wildlife value, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Hummingbird plant, Flowering accent plant, Borders, Banks, Background plant, Attracts bees, Attracts butterflies, Small spaces

Maintenance

Remove spent flowers to encourage reblooming. Cut back hard, almost all the way to the ground, leaving room for a few new buds to emerge and freshly grow, just before spring growing season begins (5).

References

Associations

Plant Lists