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Verbenaceae
CARYOPTERIS x clandonensis 'Ferndown'
Bluebeard, Ferndown Bluebeard
Valued for its relatively dark-hued flowers and compact habit, 'Ferndown' is named after the Dorset, England nursery where it originated about 1950. It is one of many cultivars of the small deciduous shrub Caryopteris × clandonensis (the hybrid of C. incana and C. mongholica).
This rounded, knee-high shrub is densely cloaked with small, narrowly oval, dark green leaves with a silvery sheen. Bruised leaves emit a pungent minty odor. In late summer and early fall pincushion-like clusters of deep violet-blue flowers appear in the leaf axils. The sweetly scented blooms draw masses of pollinators. Unlike many other bluebeard cultivars, 'Ferndown' produces very little fertile seed.
Plant bluebeard in full to partial sun and moderately fertile well-drained soil. It is root-hardy to USDA Zone 5 where it will resprout from the ground in spring. In warmer areas prune it nearly to the ground in late winter to keep it from becoming ragged and rangy. It makes a nice accent plant in the mixed border and looks great planted in rows as a low flowering hedge. This cultivar received an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
9 - 1
5 - 9
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Shrub
Full Sun, Partial Sun
24"-30" / 61.0cm - 76.2cm
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Hybrid Origin
Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Drought
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Cushion/Mound-forming
Summer, Fall
Showy
Blue Violet
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Yellow
Sandy Brown
Yes
No
Single
Matte
Smooth
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
Butterflies
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