Recommendations of which variety of Caryopteris to choose.

I was wondering if anybody has knowledge of this shrub? I have never grown any of the varieties available. I am looking for summer flowering shrubs which are pretty hardy (I 'm in Scotland) that are happy on acid soil (very well fed) and will have a South facing aspect.
I'm already going to get 3 x Deutzia Strawberry Fields which I understand is pretty slow growing hence getting 3! Hydrangeas don't really grow well here, I already have various Philadelphus, Summer flowering Spirea, shrubby Hypericum, and Buddleia but want some other mid to late summer flowering shrubs, Spring flowering is much easier!
Hope someone can give me a pointer on which variety of Caryopteris to go for or even to avoid. The stronger growing the better for me. Any other ideas for summer flowering shrubs I don't already have would be great, thanks.

 

Well here's a lucky break courtesy of Google: the outcome of RHS trials for AGM award on over 40 different varieties of Caryopteris. I didn't know there were any others except C. clandonensis!!

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/Plant-bulletins/Caryopteris-Bulletin

 

Hey that was swift Kristen! Some interesting reading over me coffee tomorrow morning. Didn't have a clue there were so many varieties great link thanks.

 

Bit worrying that the whole lot died, several times over, if I read it right!

 

Not a genus that was even on my radar so I had to google it. Strangely, some people think that it can smell of cats urine!

Must admit that I was rather taken with C.divaricata..........................


Looks a little like it's distant cousin Clerodendrum ugandense which I grow.....................

@Kristen - did we discuss this for your indoor garden?

I also have seedlings of another cousin, Trichostema dichotomum, coming along.

 

Thanks longk Read Kristen's very useful link and indeed there is a lot of death in it!!! I'm thinking that if it is dodgy to grow down South I haven't got a cat in hells chance up here. As it is I'm struggling a little with the likes of Ceanothus (thought of that as an example as both on the blue theme) so thinking I'll give Caryopteris a miss unless someone else has grown it in a similar climate to me. Pity tho it is pretty. I have tried being "smart" over the years with tenderish stuff and all that happens is the things either die or permanently sulk...bit like me then not liking the cold! We have hardly been below freezing all this winter but that isn't the norm, neither is so much rain a la the poor souls in parts of England, we are really quite dry here traditionally. Will have to think of other summer flowing shrubs for this particular border, not fussed on colour all suggestions welcome.

 

Clerodendrum ugandense?

I've seen you mention it, and fallen in love with it, but not got any further than that. I just want to get the blasted building finished ... now contemplating getting all the plants out of it, into greenhouse, so that they can lay the floor, do first fix, and bung some proper windows in. Thought I could delay that until after the plants go out this Spring, but it will delay everything until mid Summer ... and what with the mild winter I thought I might get away, now, with putting everything in the cold greenhouse (and top-up fan heater if needed).

But it means moving everything currently in the greenhouse outside (all hardy - but it will come on faster "under cover"), and then move all the tender stuff across - and the more often I move it the more often something gets dropped / bust. And the Nanas and Brugs aren't going to cope with a low roof.

I was only telling Mrs Snooks last week ...

... and so it goes on ... and on

What were you saying about plants again?

 

Now you have got your greenhouse how about Annuals instead? Plenty of nice blues in Salvia - you could have a crack at Meconopsis on your acid soil?

Or are you only wanting to grow things in tubs so you can bring them South when you emigrate?

... I'll get my coat

 

Proper hardy blue shrubs are limited in my head, but other half has a spectacular Abutilon suntense.....................


Other colours? Dorycnium hirsutum appears to be fully hardy.........................



(I have spare seed)

Salvia Black and Blue appears to be one of the hardiest all around the UK, and a good tall grower too. Tuberous, so as you are reasonably dry a good bet.....................


Other hardy tall herbaceous clump forming suggestions? Aconitum.......................

 

I have a spare baby?

 

Sounds like you need Pickfords from what you were saying to Longk. Didn't realised your 1st post was specifically to Longk , googled Clerodendrum, immediately fell in love and then noticed that word I dread regarding plants...... TENDER!

I'm already wondering how easily my new greenhouse will move plus an odd 1000 plants and I said you could do with Pickfords! Not that keen to go down the annual route and sort of up to my eyeballs in Meconopsis already which I adore. |Good point, joking apart Kristen, not sure I should be bothering to get new shrubs until after the result of The Referendum!

 

Thanks Longk. Kind offer re seed of Dorycnium have it already. Does okish, not looking as healthy as yours. Have quite a few Aconitum but like the look of the Salvia which warrant's further investigation. Love the Abutilon, in my dreams! Really shrubs which will grow into good sized bushes is what I'm after so like Spirea Bridle Wreath as an example but that flower in the summer. Not that fussed on colour except not too keen on orange. Probably like white, blue or pink if have the choice.

 

If proper blue is important you could try ceratostigma, there's a shrub version and a HP version. Quite pleasant, although they don't flower profusely for me.

I had a caryopteris. It died after a few years and wasn't all that exciting even when alive. The C divaricate looks fab though.

Longk, that dorycnium really appeals to me, I think it's the overall habit and texture that I like rather than the flowers.

 

How could we have forgotten Penstemon!
"Electric Blue".....................


"Heavenly Blue".......................


Both are bullet proof and freely available.

 

Silu, I'm pea green with envy at your ability to grow blue poppies, you could put the entire garden down to them!