About

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' is a compact, deciduous shrub that reaches heights of up to 1.2 meters. It features ovate to lance-shaped leaves that emit a pleasant aroma and have a silvery underside. During late summer and early autumn, it produces abundant clusters of deep blue-purple flowers.

About the genus

Caryopteris includes both deciduous shrubs and herbaceous perennials, characterized by their fragrant, uncomplicated leaves. These plants produce small blue or white flowers that appear in dense clusters in the axils during late summer and autumn.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H4

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
1-1.5 metres
Spread
1-1.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens
Fragrance
Foliage

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, light, well-drained soil in full sun. Best positioned near a warm, sunny wall
Pruning
Pruning group 6
Propagation
Root softwood cuttings from spring to midsummer, semi-ripe cuttings from mid to late summer or hardwood cuttings from late autumn to midwinter
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to capsid bugs and mealybugs
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus