Not every gardener wants to keep running to the nursery for new plants. Sometimes, the most rewarding part of gardening is propagating the beauties you already have! If you’re looking to expand your collection of Bluebeard (Caryopteris), you’re in luck. In this post, we’ll dive into the best methods for propagating this late-summer favorite and what you can realistically expect.
Is Bluebeard easy to propagate?
While propagating Bluebeard isn’t exactly rocket science, it does require a healthy dose of patience. It can take a few years before you see those first signature blue blooms. If you decide to go the seed route, be prepared to wait at least three years for flowers. On the bright side, plants grown from cuttings are a bit faster, often showing off their first blossoms after about a year or 18 months.
How successful is growing from seed?
Starting Bluebeard from seed is definitely doable, as long as you aren’t in a rush. Since young seedlings aren’t winter-hardy during their first few years, I highly recommend starting them in pots. Use a mix of standard potting soil and sand for good drainage. Just lightly cover the seeds with a bit of sifted soil and give them a gentle misting.
Place your starter pots in a spot that stays around 68°F (20°C) and keep the soil consistently moist. You should see the first little sprouts popping up in about two weeks. Once the seedlings reach about two or three inches tall, it’s time to prick them out and move them into their own individual containers.
How do you propagate using cuttings?
You can take stem, leaf, or axillary cuttings from a Bluebeard bush, but axillary cuttings (those taken from where a leaf meets the stem) usually have the best success rate for rooting. Try to include a tiny “heel” of the main stem with your cutting. Trim the cutting down to about two or three inches long and tuck it into some high-quality seed-starting mix.
Quick Summary:
- Growing from seed: Possible, but takes time
- Germination temperature: Approx. 68°F (20°C)
- Germination time: About 14 days
- Size for transplanting: 2 to 3 inches
- Time until first bloom: At least 3 years
- Types of cuttings: Axillary, stem, and leaf
- Rooting temperature: 60°F to 68°F (16°C to 20°C)
- Rooting duration: 1 to 2 years
Pro Tip: Wait until your young Bluebeard is about two or three years old before moving it to its permanent spot in the garden.
