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Caryopteris
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Posted by
maryl Z7 Okla. (
My Page) on
Sun, Dec 6, 09 at 22:45
I'm looking for a short growing variegated shrub under 5 feet (preferably 4 feet or lower really). Something with a larger leaf then the already established Euonymous that will be around it. I have a Variegated Duranta Erecta (Pigeonberry) now, but it's only zone hardy to 9 (and is dead as a doornail after a 20 degree freeze last night) and am looking not to have to regrow one every year. Anyway, I've only come up with one idea so far that might work in this West facing area and that's Caryopteris Snow Fairy.
Anyone growing it or have something else to suggest? Our PH is not acidic, more on the neutral side so many of the shrubs usually mentioned are not suitable for our soil. Please nothing that is invasive via roots or seeds. thank you for any thoughts you might have......Maryl |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Caryopteris
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| C. 'Snow fairy' is a perennial, not a shrub, and is cut back yearly. Would a variegated weigela work? |
RE: Caryopteris
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- Posted by maryl Z7 Okla. (My Page) on
Tue, Dec 8, 09 at 15:07
| Ah! The more common Caryopteris x clandonensis is called the Blue Mist Shrub so I confused it with Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy', which is usually spoken of as a perennial (although both may taxinomically be considered perennials). Thank you for pointing that out.....I'm not overwhelmed by Weiglia as they tend to grow too big for the spot I have in mind, but will do some research into the newer cultivars.....If someone has some experience with Caryopteris Snow Fairy though, I'd still like to hear about it even if I inadvertently posted on the wrong forum. The search engine is apparently down or I'd try that. |
RE: Caryopteris
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| I never grew callicarpa duet but it looks interesting. Probably too big. There is the Daphne Carol Mackie but the leaves would be similar in size but wouldn't Snow Fairy be similar in size too? Which Euonymous are you growing? Then there is Hydrangea 'Variegata' or 'Lemon Wave' which can get larger than 4 feet but the leaf it larger. Or Fatshedera lizei 'Angyo Star' which can be kept trim. I grow a solid fatshedera and it is hardy for me in six. There are Pieris like Silver Flame or Little Heath or variegated azaleas, Sedum Frosty Morn with support, Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’, Lonicera nitida Silver Beauty are a few more. |
RE: Caryopteris
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| Well, I'm growing C. 'Snow Fairy', and it does have handsome variegated leaves. It dies back as perennials do. In its second year, last season, it got about 3 feet tall. |
RE: Caryopteris
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- Posted by maryl Z7 Okla. (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 11, 09 at 16:19
Loretta: That was an interesting suggestion on the Callicarpa 'Duet'. Alas, 6x6 in warm areas makes it much too large for this spot. This is going to be a rather tough growing spot, rooty clay soil, western location with hot sun in PM some of the time, so I think Daphnes would be much too picky for that. The rest of your suggestions, although nice ones, again require acid soils. My ph runs 6.8 to 7. I had thought about Hydrangea Mariesii, but again it really doesn't like our PH and the afternoon hot sun it would get. If anything else comes to mind, let me know.....Lacey, thanks again. That's just about the right height and bein a die back perennial doesn't bother me at all....Here's a bad picture of the spot it will go in. I had other shrubs there - a standard (tree form) Pyracantha (too tall and thorny)and a Gold Coast Juniper (too non-descript) taken out this fall and stuck my pot of Duranta up there just to see how the foliage might look. I liked it. Pardon the setting. The garden was already entering dormancy when I snapped this picture. I don't remember the name of the Euonymous, but you can see them in the back ground.:
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RE: Caryopteris
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Is that Green Spire Euonymous? What about Boxleaf euonymous Mycrophylla Variegata? Or a tricolor sage? Or a grass? Grasses have a higher ph tolerance, don't they?
But what is wrong with your original choice of Snow Fairy? Because it dies back? I think I grow the Blue Mist Shrub Summer Sorbet - with a golden variegation. Are you looking for something specifically evergreen? |
RE: Caryopteris
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- Posted by maryl Z7 Okla. (My Page) on
Tue, Dec 15, 09 at 15:05
| I think that Caryopteris Snow Fairy will remain on my list. I've heard no objections to it here. As I said in my previous post, "being a die back perennial doesn't bother me". It's about as close as I can get in my world to the looks of my Duranta Erecta Variegata which, if it were hardy, would get too tall anyway. That's life in the garden. Thanks for all the input everyone. |
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