Other Names:  Bluebeard, Blue Spirea, Blue Mist Shrub

Brand:  Ball Seed

Description:

A mounded, compact shrub with dense clusters of blue flowers in late summer to fall, held over glossy, rich green leaves; foliage is fragrant when crushed; a true butterfly magnet for the garden

Ornamental Features

Emerald Crest Caryopteris is covered in stunning cymes of blue flowers with violet overtones along the branches from late summer to mid fall, which emerge from distinctive white flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Emerald Crest Caryopteris is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Emerald Crest Caryopteris is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Emerald Crest Caryopteris will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Emerald Crest Caryopteris makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.