Caryopteris is a shrub in the Labiatae family with blue flowers and blue pollen. This late flowering plant supplies nectar and pollen to bees when they need it most.
inside: In my recent post on blue flowering plants for pollinators, I didn’t include caryopteris. A favorite blue-flowered plant with deep blue pollen and a passionate supporter of gardeners and bees.
Factory full of surprises
Caryopteris is often called the ‘blue fog spirea’ because of the beauty of its leaves. However, unlike Spiraea, which is a member of the Rosaceae family, Caryopteris belongs to the Labiatae family. It is also called various cultivar names such as ‘Bluebeard’, ‘Dark Knight’, ‘Longwood Blue’ and ‘Sunshine Blue’.
But whatever you call it, pollinators, especially bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, love it. Become a hotspot for those seeking it. In addition, it produces an abundance of attractive, nutritious, dark blue pollen.
Caryopteris is not a native species, so it is often overlooked as a pollinator. Horticulturalists imported it to this country from East Asia as an ornamental shrub. However, it is not considered invasive anywhere in North America.
In many ways, caryopteris is the quintessential mint
Although a shrub, it has many of the characteristics associated with mint, such as alternating leaves and square, hollow stems. However, it does not smell like mint. Instead, the leaves have an inviting scent reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves and eucalyptus.
The plants remain small, only 2-3 feet tall, so they can be used in small gardens and containers. In recent years, it has become popular as a pollinating plant that tends to lack autumn flowers.
The flowers produce a moderate amount of delicious nectar and are sweet enough to attract a variety of pollinating bees and butterflies. As with other plants, the amount of nectar produced depends on local conditions and rainfall. In addition to the delicious nectar, the copious amounts of pollen attract bees, especially those that store up for the winter.
How to grow caryopteris
Caryopteris is easy to grow. Prune before the next growth cycle to keep them from falling apart.
- Light: Like most mints, Caryopteris loves full sun. It can handle bright shade, but too much shade will reduce the number of flowers.
- soil: Caryopteris thrives in well-drained, sandy soils rich in organic matter, but can tolerate poor soils once established. The pH should be slightly acidic to neutral.
- water: Caryopteris requires average moisture during the first year, but is moderately drought tolerant once established.Therefore it is often used xeri scapingToo much water will cause root rot.
- Fix: Fertilize lightly in spring to encourage growth and flowering, but do not overuse.
- pruning: Cut stems back in late winter or early spring to maintain shrub form. You can remove up to two-thirds of the growth, but be sure to leave a few buds on each stem.
- pest: Like most Labiatae plants, caryopteris is unattractive to deer and rabbits.
that’s it. Once established, the pollinator-friendly Caryopteris will delight pollinators (and people) for years to come.
Rusty
Honey Bee Suite