Blue Butterflies for the Late Summer Garden

Two choice shrubby members of family Lamiaceae, Blue Glorybower (Rotheca myricoides subsp. myricoides) and Bluebeard (Tripora divaricata 'Blue Butterflies') meet the criteria. Although the first is a tropical shrub of East African origin hardy only to zone 9b and warmer, the latter is a shrubby Asian perennial hardy to zone 6b.

Each can be planted in the ground or in large containers and can be overwintered indoors where not hardy. Easily propagated by cuttings, each grows a few to several feet high depending on culture. Loose panicles of blue butterfly-like flowers dance at the tips of the branches from summer into autumn in temperate climates. They have fragrant foliage; the Rotheca somewhat medicinal when crushed and the Caryopteris strong and unpleasant to some when brushed against. The Rotheca is evergreen, the Caryopteris can be deciduous. Their blue flowers have long, gracefully curving stamens and, eventually, four-valved seed capsules.

Both of these easy-to-grow plants provide cool blue relief when flower colors and temperatures are in the red.

• Blue Glorybower (Rotheca myricoides subsp. myricoides)
• Uploaded by dave

• Bluebeard (Tripora divaricata 'Blue Butterflies')
• Uploaded by poisondartfrog