PlantFiles: Bluebeard, Blue Spirea
Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy'

I felt I was pushing the zone 4 boundaries by planting this, but it is doing well here. It took a couple of summers to get going, and I didn't help at all because I moved it during that time. It is now a lovely specimen and extremely low-maintenance and trouble-free. The flowers are very pretty, but quite tiny and not terribly noticeable -- that's fine because the foliage really steals the show.

I planted this last year and it is doing very well so far this year. We had an exceptionally mild winter so I hope it will do as well after a harder winter. Right now it is only about 6 inches tall and the foliage is white and green and pink but later I assume it will be just green and white as it was when I bought it. I put it in quite late last year and it did not bloom but the foliage is beautiful and positively glows when surrounded by green plants. Even if it never blooms I would keep it for the foliage alone. I am fascinated by all the very different descriptions of the smell of the foliage. To me it has a strong odor when bruised, rather like green peppers, not particularly pleasant but tolerable. I have cats and it does not smell like cat urine to me. I wonder if there is a biological reason why we all seem to experience the odor differently.

The foliage compensates for the lack of size and showiness in the flowers. Agree with previous note, finding the odor neither entirely offensive nor especially fragrant. Probably would've chosen a different variety had this one not been on the clearance rack; however, the variegation does add some diversity to the border and the plant has been relatively maintenance free.

My information says that caryopteris is hardy in zones 4-9.

A lovely plant with beautiful foliage and a pleasant, spicy scent.

Striking bright white and green variegation which holds well throughout the summer. Heat and drought resistant. Wonderful compact form and has performed beautifully in our gardens in full or partial sun. Charming, delicate blue flowers cover this plant in late summer, early fall. The foliage does have a scent which some people have likened to cat urine, although we find it to be much more pleasant, almost pepper-like.

Well, one catalog says the leaves have a very distinctive smell when bruised. We'll see. Even if they do, the variegation is worth the price of noseplugs ;o) Caught this one on a spring clearance sale and couldn't pass it by when my other Caryopteris have done so well for me. Hope this one lives up to the high expectations set by its cousins!

June 2008 Update

Oh yeah - it DEFINITELY has a distinctive smell...kind of like turpentine. Not entirely offputting, but not really pleasant, either...