| Caryopteris | |
|---|---|
| Caryopteris divaricata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Caryopteris Bunge |
| Species | |
|
See text |
|
Caryopteris (bluebeard; Chinese: 莸属 you shu) is a genus of 16 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae (formerly often placed in the family Verbenaceae), native to eastern and southern Asia.[1][2][3][4]
They are herbaceous plants or small shrubs growing to 1–4 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple ovate to lanceolate, with an entire or crenate margin; they are often aromatic. The flowers are blue or white. The flower are pollinated by butterflies and bumblebees. The fruit is a four-valved capsule containing four seeds.[2][3][4]
Though several Caryopteris species are grown in botanical gardens, as ornamental plants the species have largely been superseded in gardens by the hybrid Caryopteris × clandonensis (C. incana × C. mongholica), the only one is commonly grown;[5] there are several cultivars, including 'Blue Mist', 'Heavenly Blue', 'Longwood Blue', 'Dark Knight', 'Summer Sorbet', 'First Choice', 'Pershore' and 'Worcester Gold'.
Like Buddleja, the woody stems can die back in the winter, particularly in colder climates and on heavy soils. They prefer well-drained, sandy soil in full sun, but does not need especially rich soil or constant moisture.
The accidental cross that produced Caryopteris × clandonensis occurred in the garden of Arthur Simmonds at Clandon, near Guildford, Surrey.[6] In 1930, wishing to propagate C. mongholica, he gathered seeds from a plant that was growing near C. mastacanthus. When the seedlings eventually flowered in their second year, hybrids appeared. The final selection, however, was made of a self-sown volunteer that appeared under C. mastacanthus, and eventually smothered it. It began winning R.H.S. medals in 1933.[7]
Leaves and herbaceous stems have a terpene aroma like eucalyptus, especially when lightly bruised.
Caryopteris × clandonensis, an unusual plant in American gardens in the 1960s,[8] has become more familiar there, especially in xeriscaping.