Family
Verbenaceae
Botanical Name
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur Simmonds'
Plant Common Name
Arthur Simmonds Bluebeard, Blue Mist Shrub, Blue Spirea, Bluebeard
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
The first and one of the hardiest cultivars of Caryopteris × clandonensis, this small deciduous shrub covers itself with misty blue flowers in late summer, when most other plants are flagging. A hybrid of C. incana and C. mongholica, 'Arthur Simmonds' originated in the garden of its namesake sometime before 1933.
This rounded, knee- to waist-high shrub is densely cloaked with small, narrowly oval, gray-green leaves with silvery, felted undersides. Bruised leaves emit a pungent minty odor. In late summer and early fall dense clusters of pale violet-blue flowers with prominent deep-blue anthers appear in the leaf axils. The sweetly scented blooms draw masses of butterflies and other pollinators. Plants often self-sow if not deadheaded.
Plant this shrub in full to partial sun and moderately fertile well-drained soil. Hardier than most other selections of bluebeard, 'Arthur Simmonds' winters reliably in much of USDA Zone 5, dying back but resprouting from the base in late spring. In warmer areas, a severe late-winter pruning will keep it from becoming ragged and rangy. Remove spent flowers to encourage repeat bloom and to prevent self-sowing. This small, adaptable shrub makes a nice accent plant in the mixed border and looks great planted in rows as a low flowering hedge.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 9
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Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
Yes
