Hoary bluebeard | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Vervain
Family (botanic) Verbanaceae
Tree or plant type Perennial, Shrub
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Low-growing shrub (under 3 feet), Small shrub (3-5 feet)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Occasional drought
Season of interest late summer, early fall
Flower color and fragrance Blue
Shape or form Mounded, Multi-stemmed, Open
Growth rate Fast, Moderate

Native geographic location and habitat:

Hoary bluebeard is native to Japan, Korea, and China.

Attracts birds, pollinators, or wildlife:

The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The opposite, lance-shaped, toothed leaves are up to 3 inches long. The foliage is dull gray with silvery undersides, which adds a nice contrast to the flowers.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

The violet-blue flowers are borne in clusters (cymes) from the axils of the stems in late summer.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Tan capsules add winter interest to the shrub.

Plant care:

Hoary bluebeard is technically a shrub, but should be treated as a perennial in the Midwest. The roots are hardy, but the stems can die back in cold winters. It is grown for its late summer flowers. It reaches 2 to 3 feet high and wide. It should be cut back in early spring to promote new growth and better flowering. It does best in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. It will not tolerate wet clay soil.