Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue Bluebeard

Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue is a deciduous shrub with bushy foliage and dramatic blue flowers. It suits sunny spots and wildlife-friendly gardens.

Caryopteris Clandonensis is native to eastern Asia and is also known as Bluebeard. The cultivar Kew Blue was bred at Kew Gardens in 1945 and is well established in the UK suiting warm, sheltered spots and attracting plenty of bees. It holds the RHS Perfect For Pollinators badge because it is so popular with our beneficial insects. This is a deciduous shrub meaning it will lose foliage in winter and grow foliage back again in spring. The foliage has a soft scent that increases in heat and by rubbing the silvery leaves. In late summer rich, dark blue flowers appear on the tips of branches, lifting the garden at a time when summer bedding is past its best.

Height And Spread of Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue
Bluebeard Kew Blue is a well-behaved compact grower that can reach a maximum height of a metre and spread over 1.5 metres.

How Hardy is Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue
This is a hardy plant in the UK down to minus temperatures if the roots are well-drained. It’s best to grow it near a sheltered wall in colder areas to ensure good flowering. It is rarely bothered by pests and drought tolerant once established.

How To Use Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue
Great in a hot border and a filler for difficult spots, Bluebeard Kew Blue is a reliable, undemanding performer that provides nectar for pollinators into early autumn. Its pretty blue flowers suit cottage garden planting schemes but the foliage sits well in a modern townhouse garden giving you the best of both worlds.

You can grow Kew Blue in a large and well-watered pot on a sunny patio. Place it near a seat or an open window so you can take advantage of the foliage’s gentle fragrance.

How To Care For Caryopteris Clandonensis Kew Blue
Bluebeard Kew Blue likes well-drained fertile soil and needs lots of sun to flower well. It is not fussy about soil type or pH and you can grow it in a large well-watered container. A sheltered aspect is best as harsh winds can cause foliage die back. A warm, sunny spot against a wall or fence is best.

You can leave Bluebeard to its own devices in a low maintenance garden or trim back the previous year’s flowering stems in spring by around a third leaving approximately three buds on the framework.

Water well until established and apply a thick layer of mulch to the roots each spring for good health throughout the growing season.