Bluebeard Shrub, Late Summer/Fall Color Blue/Purple

For late summer to fall color, try planting the 

Bluebeard shrub or Blue Spirea

(Caryopteris clandonensis).

This non-native perennial shrub is a very well-behaved plant great for foundation planting or as part of a low hedge. It only reaches about 5 feet tall and gets about 3-4 feet wide. 

It needs about six hours of direct sunlight a day and alkaline, well-drained soil. 

The Bluebeard is a deciduous shrub meaning it loses its leaves by the season's end. 

Hardiness zones include Zones 5,6,7,8,9

The entire shrub should be cut back to about four inches from the ground in early spring. This encourages denser growth each year.

Propagate by taking softwood cuttings in the early spring.

Established plants can be divided in either spring or fall.

This beautiful bush is an attraction to both bees and butterflies.

The powder blue/purple flowers have a nice fragrance and if you rub the leaves they smell like eucalyptus.