Caryopteris × clandonensis (Bluebeard)

Developed in Surrey, England, this garden hybrid is a deciduous shrub in the mint family, usually growing about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Its parents are Caryopteris incana and Caryopteris mongholica. Aromatic gray-green leaves accompany clusters of fragrant blue flowers. In North Carolina, United States, these bloom in late summer and early fall. It tolerates drought and is seldom browsed by deer. Flowers form on new growth. Stems may die back to the ground in cold climates. Photographed in Virginia, USA.