Sunshine Farm and Gardens: Glick Pick Archives: Caryopteris divaricata

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Rare and Exceptional Plants for the
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Caryopteris divaricata

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This has to be one of the most peculiar plants that I've ever grown. Reaching heights of 48" - 72" in part shade to full sun, Caryopteris divaricata blooms with flowers that I can't even begin to describe. Hopefully this, even difficult to photograph, plant will explain itself to you with the attached jpg.

A vigorous grower and self seeder, I was given this plant by Fred McGourtey many years ago. The cool blue color of the unique small flowers captures rays of sunlight and bends them like a prism.

Don't crush the leaves and smell them, as they have an indescribable stink to them. This is not a problem however, as you can't smell them unless you play with them.

Caryopteris divaricata is the only herbaceous Caryopteris that I know of, and I still wonder about its classification as a Caryopteris. It has square stems, but it isn't a mint. Someone speculated that it's a Srobilanthes, but I don't know enough about that genus to speculate. It's sometimes been referred to as Caryopteris nepalensis and it seems that it is of Japanese origin, but that is a contentious point also as some folks claim it to be of Himalayan descent.

But....wherever it's from and whatever it is....it's an easy and fun plant to grow and of course.

Barry Glick, Sunshine Farm and Gardens
696 Glicks Rd, Renick, WV 24966, USA
Phone: (304) 497-2208
E-mail: barry@sunfarm.com

Last modified February 25, 2020
URL: https://www.sunfarm.com/picks/caryopterisdivaricata-122555.phtml