My neighbor would like a blue blooming shrub (but NOT hydrangea) for our sandy soil in central New Jersey. (zone 6) The area she wants to plant gets afternoon sun and is next to a brick wall. Ideally she wants something that will not get taller, or can be kept pruned to four feet tall so it won't block the window. |
Your neighbor might wish to consider a Bluebeard or Blue-mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis). Also sometimes called Blue-spirea, this small shrub should do well in a sunny spot with a well-drained loose soil. It blooms during the summer on new wood and is quite lovely. The variety "Longwood Blue" grows to approximately four feet high and wide. In some winters this shrub acts like a herbaceous perennial and dies back to the ground but will regrow during the course of the summer and bloom normally. |