Caryopteris x clandonensis (Dark Knight Spirea)
Dark Knight Spirea
Latin Name: Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’
Mature Height: 3-4’
Mature Spread: 2-3’
Hardy To: 8,500’
Water: Low
Exposure: Full Sun
Flower Color: Dark Blue
Flower Season: Mid to Late Summer Attracts: Butterflies, Bees, Hummingbirds Resistant To: Deer, Rabbits
Description: Narrow, grayish-green leaves on stiff slender stems form a tightly rounded shrub with clusters of dark blue flowers blooming in the leaf axils. Dark Knight Spirea is a fragrant plant that blooms into late summer when few other shrubs are still flow- ering. It is the deepest blue of all the spireas, and it has a more tidy upright habit and is more densely branched than other species.
A fantastic source of nectar for bees and butterflies, Dark Knight flowers heavily every year, and it is deer and rabbit resistant.
Care: Plant in well-drained soil in full sun for best results. Can be cut back to the crown before spring growth emerges. This will encourage a more robust growing season each year and keep the plant well formed. Once established, Dark Knight Spirea only needs occasional watering during prolonged dry weather. Do not over- water. Allow dried flowers to remain for winter interest.
