Bluebeard

This Caryopteris clandonensis or Bluebeard bush is a stunning flowering shrub that will make a great feature in a sheltered garden. Flowering in late summer and autumn it will provide some welcome end of season colour.

Your Bluebeard plant will be happiest outside either in a pot on a patio or planted out in a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden. It is frost hardy and will tolerate temperatures right down to -10°C.

In the summer and whilst your plant is in a small pot you will need to water your Bluebeard regularly but otherwise, they are very easy-going garden plants.

When planting out, dig a nice big hole and add some compost to help your plant settle in. Keep your plant well watered whilst it is establishing and then water as necessary.

You can trim off dead flowers as they go over to encourage more buds, but your plant won’t normally need any further pruning. It will rest over the winter months but when it starts to put on new growth in the spring that would be a good time to repot into a larger pot or plant your bluebeard into the ground.

Problem Solving

Bluebeards are generally very easy-going, hardy garden plants. If you find your plant isn’t flowering well, try moving it to a more sheltered, sunnier position.

Bluebeard plants are deciduous so don’t be alarmed when your plant drops its leaves for winter, it will start putting on new growth in the spring.