Caryopteris clandonensis Camara Pink - Bluebeard

Caryopteris x clandonensis Camara Pink ® is a new blue spirea with pink flowers that is characterized by its dwarf, ball-shaped growth habit. Highly branched and very dense, the bush produces numerous light pink flower spikes that stand out against its highly distinctive, aromatic, grey-green foliage when touched. This small, highly flowering bush from late summer to early autumn is particularly attractive to garden pollinators (butterflies, bees, hoverflies, etc.). With its many advantages, it can be planted in a sunny border, low hedge, rock garden, or even in a pot on a terrace or balcony. Not very demanding, this excellent plant tolerates limestone and dry soils, but in all cases, well-drained soil and sun exposure will ensure better resistance to cold and harsh winters.

Caryopteris x clandonensis is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of Caryopteris incana, an Asian bush known as 'Bluebeard', and Caryopteris mongolica, which is hardier and native to colder regions of Mongolia and northern China. All these small bushes belong to the verbena family.

The Camara Pink ® variety is a recent cultivar that forms a small, bushy shrub with a compact habit and upright branches, reaching about 50cm (19.7in) in height and 30cm (11.8in) in width. The deciduous foliage, absent in winter, consists of thin, triangular leaves measuring 3 to 5cm (1.2 to 2in) in length, aromatic, with irregularly toothed edges, arranged in an opposite manner on straight stems. They have a dark green colour that appears more or less grey-silver depending on soil dryness and heat. When crushed, they release a resinous aroma. Its inflorescences appear from August to September on the upper half of the current year's branches. They consist of countless small, supported pink buds, gathered in large whorls or dense clusters, arranged in a staggered manner. The buds open into small light pink flowers with prominent stamens. This flowering is particularly attractive to bees and butterflies, and the bush is often visited by many colourful butterflies.

When planted near a terrace, along a path, on top of a wall, or in a rock garden, Caryopteris Camara Pink harmoniously blends with small, understated, and generous shrubs and perennial plants such as Asters, shrub cinquefoils, catmints, daylilies, lavenders, dwarf buddleias, shrub salvias, etc., or even shrub roses for borders or low grasses. In a more natural-style dry garden, it can be planted with grasses and silver-leaved shrubs such as Stipas and Artemisias. In containers or pots, this compact Caryopteris enhances terraces, balconies, or patios when combined with other shrubs for pots.