The Blue Mist spirea is also called the Bluebeard, and it is a low-mounded, deciduous shrub prized for its late summer flowers and aromatic scent. The blooms have a slight resemblance to blue clouds or mist. This flowering shrub keeps its mounded form throughout the year, and it grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet.
These spireas thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. When your Blue Mist spirea is young, you need to water it on a regular schedule. Once the roots have been established in the soil, they can become very tolerant of droughts. However, you should provide supplemental water during those long dry spells.
âBlue Mistâ spirea doesn't require fertilization or soil amendments such as compost. Overly rich soil can damage the shrub.
Blue spirea blooms on new growth. This means you should do most of your pruning either in winter or at the beginning of spring before the onset of new growth. In mild coastal areas, where blue spirea will last the winter without dying to the ground, it's better to prune in late winter to avoid pruning early shoots in spring. Pruning a blue spirea yearly will encourage full, bushy growth for the season.
The Blue Mist spirea (Caryopteris x clandonensis) is a deciduous, perennial shrub that grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet in most areas but has been known to grow taller in certain environments. The opposite, gray-green, lance-shaped leaves are serrated along the margins and often fragrant.
