The beard flower is available in different, lush flowering varieties. The subshrub needs a sunny spot and dry soil.
The bearded beard (Caryopteris) can spread exotic charm in the late summer garden. The plant, which comes from Asia, delights with its lush growth and low maintenance requirements. The pretty blue flowers appear from August. The plants can survive for many years in the right location and are an important food source for bees and other insects in the early autumn.
Beard flowers are lamiaceae whose original homeland is concentrated on the territories of Japan, Korea, China and Mongolia. In Asia, beard flowers grow in a very species-rich way. Hybrids of the Clandon beard flower can be recommended for cultivation in our latitudes. These ornamental shrubs not only have particularly intense flower colors, but are also less sensitive to frost and cold.
The right location
If you want to experience the intense blooms of the bearded beard, you should choose a location with as much sun as possible. The bearded beard finds ideal growth conditions in a sunny and warm location. The robust plants will probably not die in a shady location, but the hobby gardener will largely have to do without the flowers.
Selecting the ideal substrate
A dry and well-drained soil offers the bearded beard a good basis for growth. Before planting, the soil should be loosened over a large area. Heavy clay soil is unsuitable for bearded beard.
Under no circumstances should there be too much moisture in the substrate. If waterlogging occurs, the roots of the bearded beard rot very quickly and the plant can usually no longer be saved. Clay soils can be loosened up by adding sand or gravel. So that moisture can drain off well, it is advisable to install drainage in the soil when planting.
» Tip: The bearded beard gets along well with an alkaline to slightly acidic substrate.
Plant bearded beard - step by step
The best planting time for the bearded beard is spring. The forthcoming gardening year givesthe ornamental perennial ample opportunity to grow well and develop a stable root system before the next winter.
Proceed as follows for planting:
- Set Location
- Remove weeds, stones and roots from the ground
- Loosen the soil well
- Dig planting hole
- Install drainage
- Insert plant
- Fill up soil
- Press the bottom well
- Water the plant
» Tip: If the beard flower is to be transplanted, deep digging is necessary because the roots reach far into the ground.
Water beard
You should hold back when watering. The beard flower is only kept moderately moist. Drought is more tolerated than waterlogging. The top layer of soil is allowed to dry well before watering again. This also applies to potted plants. When kept in buckets, the risk of waterlogging is particularly high. It is therefore important to ensure that there are sufficient drainage holes in the bottom of the vessel.
Fertilize bearded beard
This undemanding subshrub gets along with few nutrients and thrives in any garden soil that is sufficiently fresh and well drained.
» Tip: To encourage flowering, you can give some rose fertilizer in spring.
We recommend:
Pruning back in autumn provides a mulch layer of leaves and compost to provide nutrition and winter protection. The nutrient requirement of potted plants is higher. During the growth phase some rose fertilizer should be given monthly.
The most important planting and care tips at a glance
| Occupation | What matters? |
| Select Location | sunny warm dry |
| Prepare the ground | fresh well drained slightly acidic |
| Plant Bearded Beard | Loosen the soil well Dig deep when transplanting |
| Water beard | Water moderately Soil should dry first |
| Fertilize bearded beard | Rose fertilizer in spring mulch in autumn Potted plants regularly during the growth phase |
Beard dandelion species and distribution areas
Until a few years ago, the beard flower was divided into 16 subspecies. Since 1999, the botanical world has only known the following seven species:
| Beard Lily Art | natural range |
| Caryopteris incana | Southwest China, Mountains |
| Caryopteris tangutica | South China, dry mountain slopes |
| Caryopteris glutinosa | Southwest China, Minjiang Valley |
| Caryopteris jinshajiangensis | South China, Jinsha Jiang Valley |
| Caryopteris trichosphaera | Southwest China, Yunnan Province |
| Caryopteris forrestii | South China, Korea, Japan |
| Caryopteris mongholica | Mongolia, high mountains and steppes |
Beard flower - popular varieties
Barbet 'Ferndown'
(Caryopteris clandonensis 'Ferndown')
| Beard 'Ferndown' (Caryopteris clandonensis 'Ferndown') | |
|---|---|
| Growth rate per year: | 15 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 70 - 100 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Root system: | Shallow roots |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | normal, dry garden soil |
Beard daisy 'Blue Sparrow' ®
(Caryopteris clandonensis 'Blue Sparrow' ®)
| Beard daisy 'Blue Sparrow' ® (Caryopteris clandonensis 'Blue Sparrow' ®) | |
|---|---|
| Growth rate per year: | 5 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 60 - 70 cm |
| Growth: | 70 - 90 cm |
| Special Features: | bee-friendly, very floriferous |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | normal, well-drained garden soil, tolerates lime, |
Mustard 'Kew Blue'
(Caryopteris clandonensis 'Kew Blue')
| Mustard 'Kew Blue' (Caryopteris clandonensis 'Kew Blue') | |
|---|---|
| Growth rate per year: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 70 - 80 cm |
| Growth: | 70 - 90 cm |
| Special Features: | bee-friendly, richly flowering, dark blue flower clusters |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | normal, permeable |
Beard dandelion 'Grand Bleu' ®
(Caryopteris clandonensis 'Grand Bleu' ®)
| Mustard 'Grand Bleu' ® (Caryopteris clandonensis 'Grand Bleu' ®) | |
|---|---|
| Growth rate per year: | 10 - 60cm |
| Growth: | 70 - 80 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 80 cm |
| Special Features: | bee friendly, protected variety, winter protection required |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | permeable, normal |
Cutting Beard
Beard flowers only form flowers on one-year-old shoots. Therefore, a pruning to a third of the growth height is necessary in early spring. Use a dry and frost-free day for this.
The shoots are shortened to a maximum of 20 centimeters above the ground. Dead wood can be easily removed on this occasion.
» Tip: Late pruning means late flowering.
Regular pruning is necessary so that the plants do not bare.
Propagate Bearded Beard
The Beardflower can be propagated by taking cuttings. The best time for this is early summer. Cuttings can be cut from the lower ends of new and already slightly woody shoots. In order not to injure the plant, you should use a sharp knife that produces smooth cutting edges.
Our favourite:
The removed branches are then rooted directly outdoors or in plant pots. It takes two to three weeks for the first roots to form.
Detect diseases and pests
The robust plants are largely spared from pests and diseases. Pests avoid the whisker because of the hairy and often slightly fragrant leaves.
» Tip: Beard flowers can even be planted in the bed as a deterrent for snails. The ravenous pests are driven away by the hairy leaves and the minty scent.
The plant can take the greatest damage from watering errors. Too intensive watering quickly leads to root rot.
Beard over winter
Most varieties are considered conditionally hardy. In severe frosts below -15 degrees, antifreeze is necessary. Potted plants should be overwintered in the house as frost-free as possible. A mulch layer of leaves and brushwood can protect outdoor plants. If you don't want to bring the potted plants indoors, cover them with garden fleece and place the plant pot on a wooden or polystyrene base.