Caryopteris clandonensis Pink Perfection - Bluebeard

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Pink Perfection' blooms in pink, unlike other blue spiraeas, while still being resistant to normal winters, a rare quality among pink-flowering Caryopteris. In this regard, this variety is a beautiful novelty. This small bush or hybrid subshrub forms, from July to September, on the upper part of its branches, pretty balls composed of a multitude of small pink buds that bloom into very tender pink flowers, dusted with stamens. It also has beautiful dark green-silver deciduous foliage that exudes a scent of turpentine when crushed. It is a sun-loving plant that thrives in well-drained, even dry, soil and is quite hardy under these conditions. It can be planted in a sunny border, a large rockery, or even in a small hedge.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Pink Perfection' is one of the hybrids obtained by cross-breeding Caryopteris incana, an Asian bush known as 'Bluebeard', and Caryopteris mongolica, which is more hardy and native to the colder regions of Mongolia and northern China. They all belong to the verbena family.

The 'Pink Perfection' variety, a fortunate chance discovery in England, forms a dense bush that is 80cm (31.5in) to 1m (3ft 4in) tall and wide depending on the growing conditions. It blooms in the second half of summer, until the beginning of autumn. Its inflorescences appear on the upper half of the current year's branches. They are composed of countless small pink buds gathered in dense whorls. The buds open into small, very pale pink flowers with prominent stamens. This flowering is particularly attractive to bees and butterflies, and the bush is often visited by many colourful butterflies. The deciduous foliage is made up of thin, triangular, aromatic leaves with irregularly dentate edges, arranged in an opposite manner on straight stems. They have a dark green-grey colour, more or less silver depending on the soil dryness and heat. When crushed, they release a powerful aroma with resinous notes.

Caryopteris 'Pink Perfection', described as one of the best pink varieties by specialists, can be used as a low hedge, in the company of equally frugal summer-flowering shrubs: Potentillas, catmints, Ceratostigma griffithii, lavenders, dwarf buddlejas, shrubby salvias... A colourful scene can be created at the end of summer by combining Caryopteris with sunflowers, evening primroses, Epilobium canum, Aster turbinellus, or other more active asters. A group of 3 shrubs surrounding a bright-coloured repeat-flowering rose is a splendid sight in September, as their differently styled and coloured blooms are perfectly complementary.