Caryopteris x clandonensis ('Lissilv') STERLING SILVER

STERLING SILVER is another success by a UK breeder Peter Catt who so far has had more than 60 plant introductions. I imagine this bluebeard belongs to his favourite violet line since he bred a number of bluebeards, perovskias, and plumbagos with violet or blue flowers. It is a cross between varieties Longwood Blue and Heavenly Blue, and the first plant was discovered in 2006. The patent No. PP22474 was issued in 2012 and the plant was named “Lissilv”.

STERLING SILVER brings a welcoming refreshment into the bluebeard family. It also produces violet blue flowers like all the others yet there is something more to catch your eye – prominent silvery blue-green shade of the foliage. The deciduous leaves are a little larger as opposed to the parent varieties, have an interesting smell when crushed, and make the plant very attractive long before it begins to bloom. They turn purple red and amber orange in autumn. Flowering starts in midsummer, and the cymes of violet flowers, always occupied by bumble bees, butterflies and similar insects, keep on blooming until mid autumn.

The plant grows medium fast into a well-behaved, upright and compact shrub. It needs to be pruned hard every spring – cut back two thirds of previous year’s growth to encourage prolific branching that will secure even more profuse flowering. Thanks to its unusual foliage colour it will look great combined with pastel-coloured perennials and small shrubs.

Bluebeard is soil tolerant, however, it does best in fertile, very well-drained soil in full sun. It is hardy to about -25°C, in free-draining soil even to -27°C (USDA zone 5b). In zones 4 and 5a it acts like a perennial.

Last update 14-09-2016