Growing Caryopteris (Bluebeard)

Pronunciation: kair-ee-op'ter-iss  

Easy to grow in a sunny location in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant (even moisture is required in the South and West). In cold-winter climates, plants may suffer some dieback; prune away deadwood as new shoots emerge in spring. Gardeners in the South and West should also prune Caryopteris hard in spring; the payoff is a shrub with a better habit and more flowers. In the Deep South and West, plants bloom in early summer; if trimmed back after the first wave of flowering, they bloom again in fall.