How to Care for Blue Mist Spirea
- 1. Grow “Blue Mist” spirea in well-drained soil where water doesn't collect after rainfall or irrigation. Provide the plant with a full six to eight hours of sunlight daily. ...
- 2. Water the shrub only during prolonged dry periods when the soil dries almost completely. ...
- 3. Trim off the plant's old flower stalks after each flush of blooming, or when they begin to wilt. ...
How do you take care of a blue mist plant?
“Blue Mist” rarely requires irrigation, and too much soil moisture can kill the plant. Trim off the plant's old flower stalks after each flush of blooming, or when they begin to wilt. Cut them back to the top of the shrub. Doing so improves the plant's appearance and encourages further flowering.
Can I cut blue mist Spirea top off?
If you’ve planted a blue mist spirea shrub recently and it’s still reaching its full size, wait a few years before you cut it to the ground. You want the root system to be strong before you cut off its top. This is the best method if you want to retain a large portion of the plant.
How do you take care of a Spirea plant?
Mulch with a layer of shredded bark to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Soil: Spirea isn’t fussy about soil type or pH. Make sure soil is well-draining. Watering: Soil should be kept moist but not soggy. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep, healthy roots.
How do you propagate Dark Knight Blue Mist Spirea?
‘Dark Knight’Blue mist spirea is usually propagated by rooting soft tip cuttings. Some gardeners, however, will be rewarded with seedlings that develop at the base of the plant. Pollinated flowers will produce seed that is very viable but also variable.
Do you cut back blue mist spirea?
If you want to prune the Blue Mist spirea, it should be done after the harsh winter season. In the spring, you will want to prune it back to the ground before the growing season. The Blue Mist spirea often behaves like a perennial as it regrows from the roots every year.
How do you prune blue mist?
0:185:59How to Prune Blue Mist Spirea in Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd look for the little tiny leaves that are just starting to emerge on the stem. And what we'll doMoreAnd look for the little tiny leaves that are just starting to emerge on the stem. And what we'll do is we take our pruners. And just trim right above those newly emerging leaves just like that.
Does blue mist spirea spread?
Dark Knight Blue Mist spirea (Caryopteris clandonensis) blooms with a profusion of dark blue flowers in late summer when few other shrubs are flowering....Dark Knight Caryopteris.Zones5 - 9Light RequirementsFull SunWater ToleranceLow-WaterMature Height36-48" tallMature Spread48" wide5 more rows
When should I cut my blue beard back?
Pruning Bluebeard Prune in spring as new growth begins to appear near the ground. You can also prune in early fall after the plant fades if you are worried about self-sowing. Trim the branches down to about 12 to 18 inches. There is no need to deadhead your bluebeard for continuous blooming.
Is blue mist a perennial?
Depending on the climate, these plants are grown either as deciduous shrubs or woody perennials that die back to the ground each winter. Growing from neat low mounds, the narrow silvery-gray leaves resemble those of willow.
Is blue mist shrub a perennial?
Bluebeard, also called blue mist spirea, is technically a woody shrub. However, it loses leaves in the winter and usually dies back to the ground every year, so it is often treated as a perennial.
When can you transplant blue mist?
Transplant them outside in spring. With a long growing season, they should bloom their first year. Seedlings may vary from the mother plant. Blue mist shrub can also be propagated by rooting stem cuttings taken in early summer.
Is blue mist shrub evergreen?
Blue mist shrub planting can occur in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is deciduous in most regions, although it may remain evergreen in mild climates. This shrub will grow to about 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.)
Is blue mist spirea toxic to dogs?
Thankfully, spirea is not a toxic plant. Feel free to plant it in the garden or as a landscape shrub. Either way, you can rest assured your dog is safe around it.
How do I prune spirea?
You should actually prune your spirea more than once a year, at least twice. Give it a good trim after it flowers in the spring by cutting back the tips of the stems to the top leaf bud. This removes the dead blossoms and also may trigger a second blooming and new leaf growth.
How do you propagate blue mist spirea?
'Dark Knight'Blue mist spirea is usually propagated by rooting soft tip cuttings. Some gardeners, however, will be rewarded with seedlings that develop at the base of the plant. Pollinated flowers will produce seed that is very viable but also variable.
What is blue Mist?
Starbuzz's flagship flavor, and easily one of the most popular shisha tobacco flavors on the market, Blue Mist is a delicious blend of candied blueberries with a cooling mint exhale. A must try flavor for any hookah smoker!
When can I cut back butterfly bush?
Prune in spring, after the new growth emerges. Many people cut their butterfly bush back in autumn, as part of their fall clean up. But particularly in cold climates, this can leave your butterfly bush more susceptible to damage over winter. Do not prune until you see green buds on the stems.
How do I prune spirea?
You should actually prune your spirea more than once a year, at least twice. Give it a good trim after it flowers in the spring by cutting back the tips of the stems to the top leaf bud. This removes the dead blossoms and also may trigger a second blooming and new leaf growth.
How do you trim a butterfly bush?
How to Prune Butterfly BushesStep 1 – Look for new growth. In late winter or early spring, butterfly bush leaves begin appearing low on the plant. ... Step 2 – Cut just above new leaves. ... Step 3 – Check your variety. ... Step 4 – Prune out dead stems. ... Step 5 – Walk around the plant.
How do you prune Longwood blue?
Hardy in zones 5-9, 'Longwood Blue' can be pruned hard to the ground each year to produce evenly-rounded, fresh growth. In colder zones, low winter temperatures can kill the top growth to the ground; otherwise, cut plants back in the spring. Plant in full sun in average to moist, but well-drained soil.
What is the color of Caryopteris blue mist?
Caryopteris blue mist shrub’s prized feature, however, is the blue to purple blooms, flowering in late summer all the way up until the first heavy winter frost. The flowers on growing blue mist shrubs are great attractors for pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
How tall does Blue Mist grow?
This shrub will grow to about 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 m.) high by 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 m.) across with a moderately fast growth rate.
Is Blue Mist a native shrub?
A hybrid or cross between Caryopteris x clandonensi, this shrub is non-native to any area and hails from the family Lamiaceae. It may also be found under the names blue mist shrub, bluebeard, and blue spirea. Let’s learn more about how to care for blue mist shrubs.
Is Caryopteris blue mist a shrub?
Printer Friendly Version. Image by Toby Garden. Caryopteris blue mist shrub is a shrub also classified as a “sub-shrub” with woody stems that partially die back in the winter, or even entirely all the way to the crown of the plant.
What to use to fertilize Caryopteris?
Fertilizer. These plants are not heavy feeders, so some organic matter mixed into the planting hole should be all the food they need. Side dressing with compost is preferred over fertilizing Caryopteris plants. Too much fertilizer makes for a leafy plant with fewer blooms.
What to use to kill caryopteris in June?
Caryopteris can be bothered by the four-line plant bug in June. The foliage will get mottled, but it doesn’t harm the plant and the bug moves on quickly enough. If the bugs disturb you, insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or neem oil will control them.
What type of soil does Caryopteris prefer?
Caryopteris prefers a medium-moisture, well-draining soil, though it tolerates fairly moist soil. It does not tolerate wet, poorly drained soils. They thrive best with a neutral soil pH, but will accept slightly acidic or slightly alkaline conditions.
How to propagate blue beard?
Propagating Blue Beard Plants. Blue beard may self seed, and the volunteers can be transplanted as you wish. You can also propagate by soft-wood cuttings in late spring. Cut 6-inch segments off new-growth stems, then remove the lower pairs of leaves.
Do blue beards need fertilizer?
Blue beard plants are low-maintenance—they tolerate both drought and shade, and they don't need much fertilizer, if any. However, like all other plants, blue beards have their preferences, so you should plant them in full sun and with medium-moisture soil if you want them to thrive.
Do caryopteris bloom in full sun?
Caryopteris plants should be sited in full sun for best blooms. They will tolerate some shade, although flowering will be somewhat reduced. Blue beard may bloom later in the season when they are planted in a shady location.
How big do blue mist spireas get?
Most blue mist spireas grow about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and have powdery blue flowers. Tight, one-inch clusters of tiny blue flowers develop in profusion along woody stems. Flowering lasts from mid-August well into October.
What flowers are good for mist spireas?
Windflower (Anemone) will thrive in sun or shade and produces masses of pink or white flowers to accent your blue mist spirea blooms. Autumn is a great opportunity to spruce up flowerbeds and begin planning for next year’s garden.
When to remove soil from a sage plant?
In a severe winter, these stems can suffer, but a few inches of soil mounded directly over the plant’s crown in late November will insulate it. This discourages severe temperature fluctuations and reduces damage from drying winds. In spring, simply remove the soil from the plant’s base.
When does snow fairy bloom?
Its amethyst blue flowers in August and September glow against its attractive foliage. ‘Snow Fairy’ is the first variegated leaf selection. It has brightly variegated green and white foliage that alone warrants the use of this plant. It produces clear blue flowers, and grows taller, to about 4 feet.
How to make blue mist spirea more symmetrical?
Use hand pruners to cut each stem right above a newly emerging leaf. Then, step back and notice if you need to touch up the plant to make it more symmetrical. Cut any irregular stems shorter as needed to create a mound-shaped plant. At high elevation, blue mist spirea can become overly woody over time.
What is a blue mist spirea?
Blue mist spirea ( Caryopteri s x clandenosis) is a wonderful small shrub for Colorado Front Range landscapes. It’s drought tolerant, deer-resistant, and produces beautiful deep blue flowers in late summer. Bees love to visit blue mist spirea when it’s in flower.
What happens to a shrub in winter?
In winter, your shrub will have nicer branching structure supporting the beautiful seedheads that catch snow.
How to keep a large portion of a shrub?
Cut back to new growth. This is the best method if you want to retain a large portion of the plant. It’s simply taking off the dead lengths of stem that will never regrow and then shaping the plant for symmetry. This method works well for shrubs planted in the past two years that aren’t fully established.
Can you cut blue mist spirea to the ground?
If you’re considering replacing your shrubs because they’re looking tired, you can try cutting them to the ground every few years.
Who was the first plant collector to hybridize C. mongolica?
Arthur Simmonds, an English plant collector, hybridized the two plants around 1930 to try to combine the longer life of C. incana and deeper blue flowers of C. mongolica. The original hybrid was named Caryopteris x clandenosis ‘Arthur Simmonds.’.
Can you prune blue mist spirea?
This is my least favorite technique for pruning blue mist spirea. It’s okay if you really don’t know what to do, but it’s not an effective method over the long term . You’re not fully rejuvenating the plant, nor are you retaining the maximum amount of growth.
When do blue mist spireas bloom?
Here’s what a blue mist spirea shrub looks like if you don’t cut it at all in the early spring. Notice the new leaves have begun to grow on the bottom two-thirds of the plant. However, last year’s dead flower spikes are still present. When the shrub blooms in July, the brown flower spikes will obscure this year’s flowers, making the shrub look neglected, sick, or simply odd.
When old blue mist spirea branches are pruned partway back, the cut stubs become answer?
When old blue mist spirea branches are pruned partway back, the cut stubs become an eyesore.
Why are my sage bushes so small?
Because we had a cold spring, they’ve grown more slowly. So although the old stems are removed and the new growth is symmetrical and fresh, they’re small.
Can you prune blue mist spireas?
This method is a pretty good option. On most of the blue mist spireas I’ve seen recently, the garden ers were successful at removing all of last year’s dead growth. They also shaped them for symmetry. These two accomplishments result in a nicely shaped shrub with green growth and attractive flowers when bloom time arrives. The take away message is that if your shrub has a nice branching pattern, pruning to new growth is an effective method to use.
What is the color of spirea?
Here are a few of the most commonly grown. Japanese spirea ( Spiraea japonica) has the widest color range, with foliage in shades of green, blue, gold or chartreuse. Flowers bloom from late spring into summer in colors of pink, purple, red or white.
What color are birchleaf spireas?
Flowers bloom from late spring into summer in colors of pink, purple, red or white. Birchleaf spirea ( Spiraea betulifolia) has a dense mounding habit with white flowers and toothed birch-like green leaves. A kaleidoscope of rich fall color occurs in shades of red, orange and purple.
When does Double Play Doozie spirea bloom?
It’s the first reblooming spirea, with fresh flowers appearing continuously from early summer through frost. This occurs because the plant does not produce seed, eliminating any concerns of spreading.
How to plant a privacy screen?
Plant in a row as a privacy screen along a property line. Use smaller to medium varieties to divide garden rooms. Incorporate a medium to large type as a background plant in a cottage-style or mixed border. Use any size or type to accentuate a woodland setting. Combine in a foundation planting along with other shrubs.
How to get air pockets out of a plant?
Remove the plant from the nursery pot and loosen the soil around the roots. Set the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball at or slightly above soil level. Backfill the hole with soil and tamp down slightly to remove air pockets. Water well.
Is Spirea fussy about soil?
Soil: Spirea isn’t fussy about soil type or pH . Make sure soil is well-draining.
Is spirea low maintenance?
It is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including poor soil, heat, cold, humidity, drought and urban pollution. Not only is spirea low-maintenance, but it also attracts butterflies and other insect pollinators. These flowering shrubs’ delicate lacy flowers can be white, pink, red or mauve.
