Blue Mist Spirea, Shrub / Woody Plant of The Day

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue'
    Blue Mist Spirea,  Bluebeard

Type    Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range    6A to 9B
Height    36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.40m
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and purple
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
Caryopteris is grown for its attractive, fragrant foliage and flowers.  Blooms appear on current year's growth and appear from late summer through early autumn.  Place in full sun for best flowering. Plant dies back and can be treated as a perennial.  Plants attract an assortment of pollinators.  The bumblebee seems to prefer the blossom.   Plants also serve as butterfly nectar sources.  Prune away flower heads after they are spent to avoid seeding.  This will also help in the vigor of the shrub.  Avoid planting in heavy wet soils.  Plant with: Buddleia, Helianthus, Heliopsis, Vitex, and Veronica sp.

Blue Star Flower, Perennial of The Day

Amsonia hubrichtii 

Blue Star Flower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 9A
Height    24" to 30" / 60cm to 75cm
Spread    22" to 28" / 55cm to 70cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Orange and yellow
This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
This plant is relatively new to the trade, but is gaining in popularity because of its attractive foliage and clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers, and its minimal growing requirements - sun and well-drained, moist soil.  Although A. hubrechtii can be planted in partial shade, its flowering capabilities will lessen.  This plant will often rebloom if spent blossoms are removed before setting seed.  It also can be propagated by division, but its growth rate will be slower due to the plant's long taproot system.  Do not prune, as its foliage turns a lovely golden color in the fall.  Plant looks great when planted with Eupatorium rugosum, Cotinus coggygria var. altropurpurea and Callicarpa japonica.  Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources.