Caryopteris clandonensis Blauer Spatz - Bluebeard

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Blauer Spatz', also marketed as Blue Bird Caryopteris, is a variety of blue spirea that charms with its density and abundant flowering, giving it a dark blue cushion-like appearance at the end of summer. This bush has deciduous foliage of a dark greyish-green colour that emits a scent of turpentine when crushed. It is a very good plant for well-drained, even dry and chalky soil, which feeds bees. A great companion for roses, it also fits perfectly in gardens without watering.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Blauer Spatz' is one of the hybrids obtained by cross-breeding Caryopteris incana, an Asian shrub known as 'Bluebeard', and the more hardy Caryopteris mongolica, native to colder regions of Mongolia and northern China. All these plants belong to the verbena family. This selection 'Blauer Spatz' forms a naturally very dense bush, wider than tall, about 60cm (23.6in) in height and 75-80cm (29.5-31.5in) in width. It usually blooms from August onwards, producing at the end of its branches fluffy, wide and dense inflorescences, composed of countless small intensely violet-blue flowers with prominent stamens. This flowering is particularly attractive to bees and nectar-feeding insects, and the bush is often visited by many colourful butterflies. The foliage is composed of small, thin and ovate leaves with irregularly toothed edges, arranged in an opposite manner on straight stems. They are greyish-green, quite dark on the upper surface, while the lower surface is fuzzy and more greyish. When crushed, they emit a powerful aroma with resinous notes. This deciduous foliage falls in late autumn.

The 'Blue Bird' Caryopteris works wonders when planted alongside small summer-flowering shrubs that are as frugal as it is: pink Potentillas, yellow or orange, dwarf blue conifers, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Perovskias, ground cover roses, shrubby salvias… A vibrant scene can be created at the end of summer by combining Caryopteris with Epilobium canum, asters, tree mint (Elsholtzia stauntoni). A group of 3 shrubs surrounding a brightly coloured remontant rose ('Trocadero', 'Nostalgie') is a sight to behold in September, as their different styles and colours of flowering complement each other perfectly.