Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’
Overview
Uses: Pollinator gardens, sunny borders, mass plantings, and dry sites.
Benefits: A compact bluebeard with deep blue-purple flower clusters in late summer, when pollinators need them most. The aromatic, silvery gray-green foliage sets off the blooms, and it thrives in heat and dry soil. Cut back in early spring for the best flowering.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding, Rounded — compact and bushy.
Bloom Color: Deep Blue-Purple
Foliage Color: Silvery Gray-Green
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A haze of true dark blue just when the summer garden starts to fade.
Blue is a rare color among shrubs, and rarer still in late summer. Bluebeard fills that gap, and Dark Knight carries some of the deepest flower color of any bluebeard. From August into fall, clusters of small blue-purple flowers ring the upper stems, standing out against foliage with a soft, silvery gray-green cast.
The plant forms a compact, rounded mound two to three feet tall and wide, a good size for the middle of a sunny border, a mass planting along a driveway, or a hot strip by the street. It pairs naturally with ornamental grasses, sedums, and other late-season perennials, and the cool blue makes yellows and oranges nearby look even brighter.
Bees and butterflies crowd the flowers at a time of year when food is getting scarce. Brush the leaves and they release a pleasant, spicy fragrance. Once established, it shrugs off heat and dry spells, and deer usually leave it alone.
Care
Dark Knight Bluebeard Care
Plant in full sun. In shade the plant grows floppy and flowers poorly.
Good drainage matters more than soil richness. Bluebeard grows well in average, sandy, or rocky soil, but it struggles in heavy clay or anywhere that stays wet in winter. A sunny, well-drained spot is the key to a long-lived plant.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. After that, water only during extended drought.
Feeding needs are light, and rich soil or heavy feeding makes it leggy. If your soil is very poor, one application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty.
Bluebeard blooms on new growth. In early spring, once you see buds swelling, cut the stems back to about 6 to 12 inches above the ground. This keeps the plant compact and full of flowers. In colder zones the stems often die back in winter anyway, and new shoots emerge from the base. It is slow to leaf out in spring, so wait until late spring before deciding a plant has not survived.
Size
What Size is the Dark Knight Bluebeard for Sale Online?
Our Dark Knight Bluebeard ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive cut back with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Dark Knight Bluebeard Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide each season, in a compact, rounded mound. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a mass planting.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
- Bluebeard
- Blue mist shrub
- Blue mist spirea
How well does it handle heat and drought?
Very well once established. Bluebeard is at its best in hot, sunny, well-drained spots and needs little extra water after its first season, which makes it a good fit for slopes, curbside strips, and low-water gardens. Too much water, especially in winter, is a bigger risk than too little. Browse more Drought-Tolerant Plants.
Is bluebeard deer resistant?
Yes. The aromatic foliage is unappealing to deer, and they usually pass it by. No plant is completely deer proof when food is scarce, but bluebeard is a dependable choice in browsing areas. See more Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
Is bluebeard a shrub or a perennial?
Technically it is a small woody shrub, but in practice it is often grown like a perennial. In colder areas the stems may die back over winter, and in every area it is cut back hard each spring. It regrows quickly from the base and flowers on that new growth the same year. For more compact flowering shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
