Dark Knight Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight')
kare-ee-OP-ter-iss ex klan-don-EN-sis 'Dark Knight'

Deciduous Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Mounded in the Lamiaceae Family
A classic bluebeard with deep blue-purple, fragrant-leaved flowers from late summer into fall.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' is one of the longer-established bluebeard cultivars, grown for its deep blue-purple flowers -- noticeably darker than the species-typical pale blue of 'Blue Mist'. Its narrow, silvery-green leaves release a sage-like fragrance when brushed or crushed.

Like other caryopteris, 'Dark Knight' forms a mounded, deciduous shrub that dies back to the ground in cold winters and resprouts from the base each spring. It blooms from late summer into fall, right as many other perennials are fading, and its flowers are a strong draw for bees and butterflies.

Pros

  • Deep blue-purple flowers, darker than most bluebeard cultivars
  • Fragrant, silvery-green foliage
  • Attracts bees and butterflies in late summer and fall
  • Deer resistant and drought tolerant once established

Cons

  • Needs full sun and well-drained soil
  • Dies back to the ground in cold winters, like most caryopteris
  • Needs a hard spring pruning each year to stay compact
This plant may be mostly winter-hardy outdoors where you live, but it may need protection to survive extreme weather.
Highlights A classic bluebeard cultivar valued for deep blue-purple flowers -- noticeably darker than most caryopteris -- and fragrant, silvery-green foliage, blooming late summer into fall.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Widely Adaptable
Zones 6a - 9b (Usually hardy to -10° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Medium, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Shrub Blue Flowering Shrubs, Fast Growing Shrubs, Small Shrubs
Bloom Period Late Summer to Fall
Flower Color Deep Blue-Purple
Foliage Color
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!