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Shrubs

Caryopteris × clandonensis Blue Empire ('Elst33'^PBR)

bluebeard [Blue Empire]

A deciduous shrub to around 1m high, with a compact, bushy habit and narrow, grey-green leaves. Fluffy clusters of deep blue flowers with prominent stamens are produced from the upper leaf axils and tips of the stems in late summer and early autumn

Other common names

blue spirea [Blue Empire]

Synonyms

Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Elst33'^PBR

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Caryopteris can be deciduous shrubs or perennials, with aromatic, simple leaves and small blue or white flowers in compact axillary clusters in late summer and autumn
Name status: Trade

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered spot; ideal against a sunny wall. Some drought tolerance once established. Will not tolerate wet, poorly drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings from spring to mid-summer, semi-ripe cuttings from mid- to late summer or hardwood cuttings from late autumn to mid-winter. As this plant is protected by Plant Breeders' Rights, any propagation should be for personal rather than commercial use

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Gravel garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Flowers on new growth so can be cut back hard in spring, see pruning group 6

Pests

May be susceptible to capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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